Initial Climate Change Impact Assessment

The intention of this document is to help the council to gain an initial understanding of the impact of a project or decision on the environment. This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. Dependent on this initial assessment you may need to go on to complete a full Climate Change Impact Assessment. The final document will be published as part of the decision-making process.

If you have any additional queries, which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk

Title of proposal	Consultation on Introducing Eligibility Tests and Fees for Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register
Brief description of proposal	To seek approval of the Executive Member to introduce criteria for inclusion on the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register, Part 1, which requires the payment of a fee and the ability to meet a local connection test.
Directorate	Community Development
Service area	Planning
Lead officer	Steve Wilson, Planning Policy & Conservation Manager (Scarborough)
Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment	N/A

The chart below contains the main environmental factors to consider in your initial assessment – choose the appropriate option from the drop-down list for each one.  Remember to think about the following:

· Travel

· Construction

· Data storage

· Use of buildings

· Change of land use

· Opportunities for recycling and reuse

Environmental factor to consider	For the council	For the county	Overall
Greenhouse gas emissions	No effect on emissions	No Effect on emissions	No effect on emissions
Waste	No effect on waste	No effect on waste	No effect on waste
Water use	No effect on water usage	No effect on water usage	No effect on water usage
Pollution (air, land, water, noise, light)	No effect on pollution	No effect on pollution	No effect on pollution
Resilience to adverse weather/climate events (flooding, drought etc)	No effect on resilience	No effect on resilience	No effect on resilience
Ecological effects (biodiversity, loss of habitat etc)	No effect on ecology	No effect on ecology	No effect on ecology
Heritage and landscape	No effect on heritage and landscape	No effect on heritage and landscape	No effect on heritage and landscape

If any of these factors are likely to result in a negative or positive environmental impact then a full climate change impact assessment will be required. It is important that we capture information about both positive and negative impacts to aid the council in calculating its carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Decision (Please tick one option)	Full CCIA not relevant or proportionate:	X	Continue to full CCIA:
Reason for decision	The recommendation is to seek approval to introduce criteria attached to be entered onto the self-build and custom housebuilding register. This is limited only to Part 1 of the Register (a) paying a fee, and (b) meeting a local connection test. This is not about the actual policies of the local plan or any decisions made on planning applications in relation to the location or construction of any self-build homes. The actual specification of house design has no bearing on the register and that this would follow in the relevant planning permission and building control regulation requirements in terms of energy efficiency and design. Whilst not noted in the table above there is the nuanced argument that by restricting development to those persons with a local connection (to North Yorkshire) this eliminates the use of self-build plots for the construction of second homes. Second homes can be an inefficient use of a residential unit and often used for holiday letting purposes. This can result in long journeys by motor vehicles for short-term stays as opposed to a person(s) living and residing in the area. With this in mind, the impacts on climate change are therefore considered to be minor in nature, and in respects of this proposal in a positive manner.
Signed (Assistant Director or equivalent)	Trevor Watson
Date	4 January 2024