Regional Policy and Legislation
The South West Regional Spatial Strategy (SWRSS)
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy was published by the Assembly for public consultation in April 2006. The independent panel's report of the Examination in Public (EiP) Panel of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West was published by Government Office South West in January 2008.
The core strategy for the region seeks to deal with the expected high levels of growth in the most effective and sustainable way possible.
New development will therefore be concentrated at a number of key regionally and sub-regionally significant centres, and then more locally at service centres identified in Local Development Documents (LDDs). One of the aims is to achieve a better balance between homes and jobs.
- house builders must ensure that their developments achieve best practice in sustainable construction
- all new and refurbished buildings are to achieve the requirements of BREEAM and Eco-homes, Very Good standard, or at least Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes
- all larger scale developments are to be designed and constructed to meet Level 5 of Code, which means carbon neutrality
- sustainability statements are required for larger scale residential and/or mixed-use planning applications in line with the South West Sustainability Checklist for Developments
- the risk of flooding is to be minimised through sustainable urban drainage
- Air, land, water and noise pollution is to be reduced throughout the lifetime of the buildings
- homes need to be designed to be safe and adaptable, for example through meeting the lifetime homes standard
- renewable, recycled or local building materials are to be used to create locally distinctive construction and to reduce the carbon footprint.
- creation of sustainable communities is to include access to local amenities and jobs, green space and biodiversity
Regional Renewable Energy Strategy for the South West of England 2003-2010
The south west has a challenging renewables target to meet. Achieving this target can however bring wide-ranging benefits to the region. The overall vision of this strategy is "to maximise the social, environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy through the integration of renewable energy into mainstream policy and practice at all levels within the region." To view the file click here.
The strategy identifies three areas where a regional focus is required:
- Deploying renewable energy on the ground
- Developing skills and awareness
- Building the South West renewable energy industry.
It incorporates a practical action plan for each of these areas including timescales and suggestions for target setting.
