Agenda item

This item will consider the New Southwark Plan and plans to amend this to deliver the Carbon Reduction Strategy. An officer report is enclosed.

What is the New Southwark Plan?

The New Southwark Plan (NSP) will be a new borough-wide planning and regeneration strategy up to 2033. Once finalised and adopted, it will replace the current local plan. Not only will it set out planning policies to guide development but it will also explain how development will be delivered and may inform future decisions about investment in infrastructure. The spatial plan consists of three main areas:

1.Area visions – setting out the aspirations of the borough’s distinctive neighbourhoods

2.Planning policies – informing decisions on planning applications and development proposals

3.Site allocations – potential development sites with specifications for development requirements

Once finalised and adopted, it will replace the current local plan, comprising the saved Southwark Plan policies 2007 and the Core Strategy 2011, and will be used to make decisions on planning applications.

Current stage – After submission

The council submitted NSP to the Secretary of State on 16 January 2020. It means the ‘Examination in Public’ process has now started, which is the last stage of the plan-making process. Throughout the examination process, the Planning Inspector will examine and assess NSP based on the following criteria:

•Has it complied with the ‘duty to cooperate’?

•Does it meet all the necessary legal requirements?

•Is it sound?

•Is it well evidence-based?

•Is it deliverable?

•Is it compliant with national and regional policy?

Relevant documents can be found here: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy-and-transport-policy/development-plan/local-plan?chapter=4

Councillor Johnson Situ gave an overview on the New Southwark Plan (NSP), with support from Juliet Seymour, Planning Policy Manager, and Tim Cutts, Senior Regeneration Manager.

The New Southwark Plan (NSP) will be the new borough-wide planning and regeneration strategy up to 2033. Once finalised and adopted, it will replace the current local plan. The council submitted the NSP to the Secretary of State on 16 January 2020. It means the ‘Examination in Public’ process has now started, which is the last stage of the plan-making process.

They explained that New Southwark Plan is a living document, which they will continue to amend. Its development has coincided with the declaration of Climate Emergency.

One of the most impactful changes on carbon outlined in the New Southwark Plan is that we will now require a minimum of 40% on-site reduction on 2013 Buildings Regulations Part L, which are a measure relating to the conservation of fuel and power. Currently, the London Plan recommends that development must achieve a 35% reduction on the same 2013 regulations. This is the target that most boroughs in London have now adopted, and the Inspector’s Report for the draft London Plan acknowledges that this target is realistic. This will require major developments in Southwark to exceed the Mayor’s target by 5%. Officers said that currently buildings achieve 34 % on average and on occasions as high as 70%, so they know the 40% target is achievable

Juliet Seymour, Planning Policy Manager, drew members attention to a subsidiary plans, such as those on biodiversity, which can be amended in light of the Climate Emergency. These subsidiary plans require provision of walking and cycling routes, and a reduction in parking provision. 

The chair invited members’ questions and the following points were made:

  i.  Will Southwark consider sighing up to the delivery of New Zero Carbon Buildings?  Officers said they are looking at this.

  ii.  How are Carbon offsets payments in lieu used? Officers said that a plan on how they could be used is due February. Examples are improved lighting on estates. 

  iii.  Will you review this as better to do this ‘on site’ that than via Carbon Off-setting? Officers agreed it is better to meet energy targets ‘on site’ and they will be reviewing practices.  They are also considering doubling the amount of carbon charged, i.e. increasing the amount developers have to pay.

  iv.  What about retaining existing buildings and the embedded carbon? Officers agreed this is an issue, and that conservation and could be looked as part of revised the policy. Currently carbon targets relate to the energy emissions of the final building, rather than the carbon generated by the erection of new building structures.

  v.  How will the council tackle Town Centre developments that still allow cars, for example Canada Water, particularly when there is not the best public transport in place? Officers and the cabinet lead said this does need to pushed further to reduce parking , but also highlights the challenges and  balancing act required in areas with poor public transport. Most new developments do not allow car parking. Officers said the Old Kent Road housing schemes do not have car parking, other than disabled parking, and they are working with planning to improve cycling and bus lanes. There is also virtually no residential parking in Canada Water. Tesco’s have halved the car parking at Canada Water in response to negotiations with the council. The supermarket chain’s demands for parking place the council in a conundrum as a Tesco is desired, but Tesco’s have not moved the dial sufficiently in terms of carbon emergency.

  vi.  Will sustainable freight opportunities in developments be adopted? The cabinet lead indicated that that the council will be looking at this, and linking this with other responsibilities such as economic growth.

  vii.  Have you thought about ambitions for traffic reduction? That is an aim for no trip generation and more walking and cycling, but no overall target for car reduction has been set. This is something that could be looked at.

 viii.  Will there be electric charge points provided? Possibly, and looking at providing on lampposts.

  ix.  Are we pushing for passive house; ground heating; Community Energy? Officers said they have just updated the plan that increases energy efficiency. The London Plan forbids gas, so looking at other energy sources e.g. SELCHP. This is also better for air quality.

  x.  What are you doing to improve air quality on the SELCHP chimney? There is a lot of heat lost, so looking at better efficiency, and reducing pollutants. More information can be provided.

  xi.  What about Community Energy and solar in particular? The cabinet lead said that this does have a part to play and there is work on this that will be bringing forward. Officers said that air source pumps are being looked at in Council homes, which are low carbons rather than zero carbon.

  xii.  How will the huge gaps in public transport be tackled?  The cabinet lead said the aim is for a public transport network that is fit for 21st Century .This includes an extension of the Bakerloo Line, but also improved buses and cycling provision, and generally improving permeability. The plan for Old Kent Road is aimed at that.

 xiii.  What about improved Green Space. The aim is to double the amount and improve quality and user satisfaction. The area action plan has specific ambitions. Officers said that land acquisitions are prioritising land to provide parks.

 xiv.  Can you explain the reduction of some of the sustainable features of the Elephant Park? Officers said the Elephant Park pan had very high target, this scheme folded but Lend Lease are continuing to aim to be zero carbon.

  xv.  Are wind turbines on tall structures a symptom of building failure? Yes, some are gimmicks that have not turned for 10 years as they are too noisy. Now there is more flexibility to meet zero carbon.

 xvi.  What steps are being taken to examine current air quality and take steps if over the legal limit .Officers said that the council has required Old Kent Road developments to improve air quality. Regeneration does give the council an opportunity to dive improvements.

xvii.  The large scheme around Vauxhall does not seem beneficial to local people. How will benefits be delivered on the Old Kent Road, and will they go beyond the focus on the Bakerloo’s line tube extension? The cabinet lead that there will be an increase in youth provision, as well as an increase in cycling provision and bus lanes.

xviii.  The document looks divorced from Climate Emergency, even though there are measures outlined above. What are the smart measures that can be included to meet the scale of the Climate Emergency? There is a planned Annual Report which will address progress and opportunities to go further.

 xix.  Will you be able to provide more information on carbon offsets reduction? Officers offered to provide this.

RESOLVED

Officers will provide information on:

•  The percentage of schemes utilising carbon offsets to meet targets, and how carbon offsets are used

•  SELCHP air quality impact and improvement plan