How can a neighbourhood plan help address local issues brought about by climate change?

Responding to climate change and the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan

In addition to the statutory requirement to take the National Policy Planning Framework into account in the preparation of local plans, there is a duty on local planning authorities to include policies in their local plans designed to tackle climate change and its impacts, for example local flooding as recently experienced in the DDNP area.

This complements the duty of sustainable development on plan-makers, and the expectation that Neighbourhood Plans such as the Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan will play an important role in contributing to the achievement of sustainable development at a local level.

The DDNP has ten aims, and one of these is a commitment to ensuring that the need to address climate change runs through all aspects of its approach to local development.

Subject to further consultation and examination, a number of key priorities have been woven into the draft Diss and District Neighbourhood Plan.

They include:

• discouraging the use of external lighting and street lighting reducing energy consumption and improving ecological habitats

• the assessment of allocation sites which includes consideration of sustainable access to services, such as by walking and cycling

• policies to help deliver significant improvements to green infrastructure across the DDNP area to support the health and resilience of wildlife, which is essential in maintaining and enhancing its ability to provide the wealth of ecosystem services, such as water retention and climate regulation, which we rely on.

• supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy, aiming to deliver an improved walking and cycling network

• promotion of improved broadband, making it easier for people to work from home and reduce their travel needs

• addressing matters where it can, and not already covered by national planning policy or the local plans such as drainage ditches, for example maintenance and care to improve their functionality

The DDNP is currently being drafted, and the steering group are looking forward to sharing it with their local communities and inviting feedback on the policies it contains. This will happen at the 'Regulation 14' stage, which is due to take place later in 2021.