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Sustainability
Sustainability - What we do
South Hampshire has a wealth of environmental, historical and cultural assets. One of PUSH’s key priorities is to ensure that its strategy for economic growth protects and enhances these assets and is environmentally sustainable.
Where development is proposed to stimulate growth, effective planning controls will minimise the environmental impacts, and development will be designed with sustainability principles central to all decision making.
In seeking to achieve sustainable and environmentally sensitive development, the South Hampshire authorities will work to the following principles:
- excellence of urban and suburban design that reflects the historic and cultural significance of the area and contributes to an effective live/work balance;
- development that aims to protect the environmental quality of South Hampshire and creates new quality landscapes to enhance the natural environment;
- sensitive design where urban areas meet their rural fringe to provide amenities and reduce pressures on surrounding landscapes;
- stabilise and then reduce resource consumption, such as energy, water and materials;
- net self-sufficiency in resource recycling and waste handling;
- joint decision making on targets for resource usage and planning for resource management infrastructure;
- planning that takes into account necessary mitigation and adaptation measures with regard to climate change; and
- the application of common environmental standards across South Hampshire.
Sustainability Theme Group
The PUSH Sustainability Group consists of representatives of the 11 local authorities that cover the South Hampshire Sub Region together with representatives of the Environment Agency, the Environment Centre and the Solent Architecture Centre. The Group meets approximately 6 times a year and is supported by a sub group that progresses various projects on a more regular basis. The Group also involves the participation of a wider range of environmental partners on a project by project basis as appropriate.
South Hampshire’s environment
The South Hampshire sub-region is surrounded by nationally important landscapes and habitats. To the north east is the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), forming part of the proposed South Downs National park; to the south east is the Chichester Harbour AONB; to the south west is the New Forest National Park. South Hampshire is a landscape with a high degree of sensitivity due to its cultural and natural significance. It is bordered and crossed by internationally and nationally important coastal and river habitats, and supports a high concentration of nationally significant biodiversity habitats. Apart from those mentioned above these also include, the Forest of Bere, the Solent Special Protection Area, and numerous Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
The PUSH Sustainability Group has therefore been focusing on a wide range of initiatives to ensure that its key sustainability principles will inform and shape the nature of key development proposals during the lifetime of the strategy. These principles are embodied in the sub-regional policy SH14 that has been submitted to the South East Regional Assembly and incorporated into the Draft Sub Regional Strategy for South Hampshire.
The main activities of Sustainability Group are detailed below.
Consistent Policy Approach for Environmental Sustainability
A policy has been prepared and incorporated into the Draft Sub Regional Strategy (SH14) http://www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan/plan/march_2006/core_document/015_seera_sep_e01.pdf to enable the local authorities in South Hampshire to take a consistent sustainable approach to development proposals, including:
- accessibility
- green infrastructure (woodland, parks, open space, recreational networks etc)
- infrastructure (including roads, utilities, schools, healthcare etc)
- use of natural resources
- coastal zone management
- flood risk
- construction standards
- recycling of materials
- energy efficiency
- renewable energy
- minimising water usage.
The Group is now working on more detailed material to shape the policies included within Local Development Frameworks of each local authority within the PUSH sub region. During 2008 the Group will be preparing a Supplementary Planning Document to stand alongside the policies and provide more detailed guidance to developers on what will be required within new developments to satisfy these new and demanding environmental standards.
Developing Best Practice in Sustainability
Working in partnership with the Environment Centre in Southampton, http://www.environmentcentre.com, PUSH has been successful in securing European Funding from the GROW programme to promote best practise in environmental sustainability. This is known as the SUSPURPOL project, http://www.environmentcentre.com/SusPurPol/SusPurPolHome.php and is focused on developing relevant technical skills for planners and developers and those involved in procurement of new buildings. The European partners participating in the project and sharing best practise are the University of Technology, Cracow in Poland and the Andalusian Institute of Technology, Seville, in Spain.
Skills Development on Environmental Sustainability
Through the SUSPURPOL project it has been possible to organise a range of workshops with a wide range of professionals, local authority councillors and officers, developers and relevant agencies to raise awareness of environmental sustainability and to assist in the development of new policy.
Waste, Materials and Resources – Strategy for Minimising Use
Construction waste constitutes over 50% of the total waste stream and mostly finds its way to landfill. Dealing with construction waste more effectively and ensuring much higher levels of recycling and minimisation of waste is a key priority for PUSH. Working with partners such as WRAP, http://www.wrap.org.uk PUSH has been developing best practise and putting in place appropriate policies in the Minerals and Waste Development Framework, http://www3.hants.gov.uk/mineralsandwaste/planning-policy/development-framework.htm to assist in achieving a more sustainable approach to resource use related to development activity.
Procurement Strategy for Development and Construction
Local authorities have a key responsibility to champion the case for sustainability by ensuring that in their approach to purchasing, environmental sustainability is a key consideration. PUSH is currently preparing objectives to guide local authority procurement on sustainable principles and is looking to raise awareness amongst procurement professionals through a series of workshops.
Sub Regional Energy Services Company – Renewable Energy Opportunities
Given the significant scale of residential and commercial development envisaged through the draft Sub Regional Strategy, PUSH is exploring the opportunities this offers for securing the highest level of renewable and low carbon energy that can reasonably be achieved. The environmental sustainability policies being prepared will require developers to ensure that renewable and low carbon energy supply is a key feature of their proposals. In order to maximise the scope for delivery PUSH is currently undertaking a feasibility study for the establishment of an Energy Services Company (ESCo). The purpose of an ESCo would be to provide the infrastructure and realise the opportunities for renewable and low carbon energy across the sub region. A copy of the brief is available.
Green Infrastructure Strategy for South Hampshire
Maximising the potential of local green space is another critical environmental priority for PUSH. Providing new local green assets and making more effective use of existing assets will help absorb pressure from new development and reduce the impact on the protected and environmentally sensitive landscapes surrounding and within South Hampshire. Providing high quality green space, accessible to the public will be essential to delivering development that supports the economic aspirations of the sub-region. PUSH therefore commissioned TEP Consultants to research and prepare a green infrastructure strategy that will set out a comprehensive plan to make best use of existing assets and identify the opportunities for the creation of new ones that meet the needs of local communities. PUSH will in due course work with local communities, developers and a wide range of partners to implement the recommendations of the green infrastructure strategy as new development proposals come on stream. PUSH partner authorities will also take account of the Green Infrastructure Strategy in preparing local development documents.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for South Hampshire
In developing the sub regional strategy for South Hampshire PUSH has recognised the need to give careful consideration to the implications of coastal/tidal and fluvial or river based flooding. Working with the Environment Agency and Water Authorities a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment has been commissioned to inform and guide the location for new development and minimise the risk of flooding. The results of this work are now available and will be used to support the preparation of local development frameworks in each of the PUSH authorities.
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