Policy information sourced from Wandsworth Core Strategy

IS 2 Sustainable design, low carbon development and renewable energy

The Council supports measures to improve energy conservation and efficiency and contributions to renewable energy generation. All development will be required to make efficient use of natural resources (e.g. energy and water), employing good standards of sustainable design and construction, including sustainable drainage, working towards low carbon and zero carbon standards.

The Council will require new development to achieve the higher optional national technical standards for housing and BREEAM or other nationally recognised standards that replace them as set out in DMPD Policy DMS3 unless demonstrated that it would not be technically feasible or economically viable. New buildings should be designed for the climate they will experience over their lifetime.

The Council will promote zero-carbon development. All development proposals should follow the principles of the Mayor’s energy hierarchy. Development proposals will be expected to demonstrate and justify their approach as set out in DMPD Policy DMS3.

  • Passive design and energy efficiency measures should be applied to minimise the demand for energy in new buildings as far as possible.
  • Unless demonstrated that it would not be technically feasible or economically viable to do so all developments will be expected to connect to any existing heating or cooling network. Where networks do not currently exist, developments should make provision to connect to any future network that may be developed, having regard to opportunities identified through the London Heat Map and any relevant Energy Masterplan. Where no networks are planned, major development should incorporate on-site decentralised energy systems, such as combined heat and power, where feasible.

Developments will be required to achieve reductions in carbon emissions through on site renewable energy generation in line with the energy hierarchy unless it can be demonstrated that such provision is not feasible.

The Council will use the National Planning Policy Framework and London Plan policies, including those on green infrastructure, flood risk, sustainable drainage and water quality and the standards in the London Plan Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction to ensure the overall sustainability of the site.

For more information please see the Wandsworth Core Strategy