The latest reports from the National Committee for Climate Change such as the "UK Housing. Fit for the Future?" and the UK's Sixth Carbon Budget "warn that the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings" and that UK homes are woefully unprepared for climate change". The Council's Zero Carbon Strategy also recognises the high level of emissions from existing housing. In order to meet our district-wide ambitions for net zero within the applicable legal frameworks, there is a need for practical outcomes which reduce carbon emissions. Listed and historic buildings form part of our building stock and a special part due to their cultural importance individually and within the wider setting. Many homeowners are interested in contributing to the fight against climate change. There is a need to ensure the vital cultural assets are preserved whilst enabling homeowners to adapt these homes to the changing climate. Following a recommendation from CEAC, the Council committed to adopting a proactive approach to the retrofitting of listed and historic buildings and to the weighing of the balance between conservation and the reduction of carbon emissions
This Council notes that
Planning law establishes the principle that ‘harm’ to a heritage asset should be weighed against ‘public benefit’.
and
that though the weighting of the balance is subject to statutory guidance, the assessment of ‘public benefit’ cannot be blind to climate change nor to the context of the Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency and its adoption of a Zero Carbon Strategy.
It is for this reason that this Council resolves that:
i) In the officer reports accompanying applications for Planning and Listed Building Consent the reports will contain information making clear the way in which the balance has been made between public benefit, including where that benefit includes climate considerations, and the preservation of historic fabric
ii) Where appropriate officers will seek the advice of the Council’s sustainability officer in addition to experts in conservation to contribute to the assessment exercise
Decision:
Council agreed the following motion:
The latest reports from the National Committee for Climate Change such as the "UK Housing. Fit for the Future?" and the UK's Sixth Carbon Budget "warn that the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings" and that UK homes are woefully unprepared for climate change". The Council's Zero Carbon Strategy also recognises the high level of emissions from existing housing. In order to meet our district-wide ambitions for net zero within the applicable legal frameworks, there is a need for practical outcomes which reduce carbon emissions. Listed and historic buildings form part of our building stock and a special part due to their cultural importance individually and within the wider setting. Many homeowners are interested in contributing to the fight against climate change. There is a need to ensure the vital cultural assets are preserved whilst enabling homeowners to adapt these homes to the changing climate. Following a recommendation from CEAC, the Council committed to adopting a proactive approach to the retrofitting of listed and historic buildings and to the weighing of the balance between conservation and the reduction of carbon emissions.
This Council notes that
Planning law establishes the principle that ‘harm’ to a heritage asset should be weighed against ‘public benefit’.
and
that though the weighting of the balance is subject to statutory guidance, the assessment of ‘public benefit’ cannot be blind to climate change nor to the context of the Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency and its adoption of a Zero Carbon Strategy.
It is for this reason that this Council resolves that:
i. In the officer reports accompanying applications for Planning and Listed Building Consent the reports will contain information making clear the way in which the balance has been made between public benefit, including where that benefit includes climate considerations, and the preservation of historic fabric.
ii. Where appropriate officers will seek the advice of the Council’s sustainability officer in addition to experts in conservation to contribute to the assessment exercise.
Minutes:
The meeting had been in progress for four hours and under section 9 of the Standing Orders as laid out in the Constitution, Council voted by affirmation for the meeting to continue.
Councillor Geoff Harvey proposed and Councillor Pippa Heylings seconded the following motion:
“The latest reports from the National Committee for Climate Change such as the "UK Housing. Fit for the Future?" and the UK's Sixth Carbon Budget "warn that the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings" and that UK homes are woefully unprepared for climate change". The Council's Zero Carbon Strategy also recognises the high level of emissions from existing housing. In order to meet our district-wide ambitions for net zero within the applicable legal frameworks, there is a need for practical outcomes which reduce carbon emissions. Listed and historic buildings form part of our building stock and a special part due to their cultural importance individually and within the wider setting. Many homeowners are interested in contributing to the fight against climate change. There is a need to ensure the vital cultural assets are preserved whilst enabling homeowners to adapt these homes to the changing climate. Following a recommendation from CEAC, the Council committed to adopting a proactive approach to the retrofitting of listed and historic buildings and to the weighing of the balance between conservation and the reduction of carbon emissions.
“This Council notes that
“Planning law establishes the principle that ‘harm’ to a heritage asset should be weighed against ‘public benefit’.
and
that though the weighting of the balance is subject to statutory guidance, the assessment of ‘public benefit’ cannot be blind to climate change nor to the context of the Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency and its adoption of a Zero Carbon Strategy.
“It is for this reason that this Council resolves that:
i. In the officer reports accompanying applications for Planning and Listed Building Consent the reports will contain information making clear the way in which the balance has been made between public benefit, including where that benefit includes climate considerations, and the preservation of historic fabric.
ii. Where appropriate officers will seek the advice of the Council’s sustainability officer in addition to experts in conservation to contribute to the assessment exercise.”
Councillor Geoff Harvey explained that this motion was about conservation and heritage, set in the wider context of planning law. He asked Council to support this motion which would balance the needs to protect the historic buildings with the need to address climate change. Councillor Pippa Heylings seconded the motion. She explained that this motion was ensuring that the Planning Committee received more information whilst balancing the different factors in their decision making.
Councillor Dr Claire Daunton stated that the carbon footprint of historic buildings could be reduced without compromising the actual building itself. Councillor Peter Fane expressed his support for the motion. He stated that retrofitting historic buildings was required to meet climate change targets, as there were 80 conservation areas in the District.
Councillor Nigel Cathcart hoped that suitable compromises could be found that maintained the character of the historic buildings in question, whilst substantially reducing their carbon footprint.
Councillor Heather Williams declared her support for the motion and she recognised the need to balance the need to improve a building’s energy efficiency whilst still maintaining its character. She stated that officers’ impartiality must not be compromised.
Councillor Deborah Roberts respected the research carried out by Councillor Geoff Harvey in preparing his motion but was concerned that residents such as herself could be denied the ability to heat their homes through burning wood and coal.
Councillor Dr Richard Williams expressed his support for the motion, but he hoped that its implementation would not delay the planning process.
Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins recognised the challenge of making a historic building more energy efficient and the heritage section of the Council’s website offered advice on this.
Councillor Geoff Harvey agreed with Councillor Heather Williams that officers were conscientious and under pressure. He understood Councillor Nigel Cathcart’s concern and hoped that a record of case histories could be compiled to assist future projects.
Upon the motion being put, a vote was taken and were cast as follows:
In favour (24):
Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Paul Bearpark, Ruth Betson, Anna Bradnam, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Dr Claire Daunton, Sue Ellington, Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie, Neil Gough, Bill Handley, Geoff Harvey, Dr Tumi Hawkins, Pippa Heylings, Brian Milnes, Deborah Roberts, Dr Ian Sollom, Dr Aidan Van de Weyer, Bunty Waters, Heather Williams, Dr Richard Williams and John Williams
Against (0)
Abstain (1):
Councillor Nigel Cathcart
Council Agreed the following motion:
The latest reports from the National Committee for Climate Change such as the "UK Housing. Fit for the Future?" and the UK's Sixth Carbon Budget "warn that the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets will not be met without the near-complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings" and that UK homes are woefully unprepared for climate change". The Council's Zero Carbon Strategy also recognises the high level of emissions from existing housing. In order to meet our district-wide ambitions for net zero within the applicable legal frameworks, there is a need for practical outcomes which reduce carbon emissions. Listed and historic buildings form part of our building stock and a special part due to their cultural importance individually and within the wider setting. Many homeowners are interested in contributing to the fight against climate change. There is a need to ensure the vital cultural assets are preserved whilst enabling homeowners to adapt these homes to the changing climate. Following a recommendation from CEAC, the Council committed to adopting a proactive approach to the retrofitting of listed and historic buildings and to the weighing of the balance between conservation and the reduction of carbon emissions.
This Council notes that
Planning law establishes the principle that ‘harm’ to a heritage asset should be weighed against ‘public benefit’.
and
that though the weighting of the balance is subject to statutory guidance, the assessment of ‘public benefit’ cannot be blind to climate change nor to the context of the Council's declaration of a Climate Emergency and its adoption of a Zero Carbon Strategy.
It is for this reason that this Council resolves that:
i. In the officer reports accompanying applications for Planning and Listed Building Consent the reports will contain information making clear the way in which the balance has been made between public benefit, including where that benefit includes climate considerations, and the preservation of historic fabric.
ii. Where appropriate officers will seek the advice of the Council’s sustainability officer in addition to experts in conservation to contribute to the assessment exercise.