Climate change impact assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.
This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision making process and should be written in Plain English.
If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk
Version 2: amended 11 August 2021
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Title of proposal |
Revised Publication Local Plan for the former Selby district area |
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Brief description of proposal |
Climate Change Impact Assessment |
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Directorate |
Community Development |
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Service area |
Planning |
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Lead officer |
Caroline Skelly |
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Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment |
Will Smith Kennedy Sheldon |
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Date impact assessment started |
20th November 2023 |
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Options appraisal Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.
In preparing the Local Plan, a Sustainability Appraisal has been undertaken by Aecom. A scoping exercise was carried out to establish the key sustainability issues and objectives for the plan area. The full Sustainability Appraisal covers the spatial growth options for housing and employment as well as the individual site options. A key element of the Sustainability Appraisal process is to explore different ways in which the objectives of the plan can be met and to ensure the most sustainable option is reached.
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What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?
Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.
The Local Plan is a document which informs new development. The Local Plan has a budget which is used to commission required evidence. Where essential infrastructure is needed, this will be addressed through the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
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How will this proposal impact on the environment?
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Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale?
Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO2e · Links to relevant documents |
Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.
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Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible. |
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Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.
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Emissions from travel |
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X |
New Development through the Local Plan will have the potential to increase car travel greenhouse gas emissions. |
The former Selby district area has a relatively high level of car dependency, in part because of the rural nature of parts of the district. The Local Plan has sought to address this through focusing development in the most sustainable locations where there is access to public transport, supporting improvements to digital infrastructure to reduce the number of necessary trips, placing a strong focus on providing sustainable transport connectivity, through the development process.
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Continue to monitor the Selby Air Quality Management Area and traffic congestion and review appropriate policies in due course. New consumer behaviours such as the switch to electric and hybrid cars will see a continued decline in emissions from cars. New Development will continue to maximise the benefits of the provision of electric vehicle use. |
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Emissions from construction |
X |
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The provision of new homes will maximise the use of sustainable materials and infrastructure and construction methods. |
Traditional building styles will reflect local materials. This will assist in supporting localised building supply chains. Policies within the plan support ensuring the use of sustainable materials. |
Development Management will continue to implement policies which support local, traditional building styles with local material. |
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Emissions from running of buildings |
X |
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In cutting emissions, Solar energy now presents a high proportion of installed renewable energy generation capacity in the District area and renewable energy is supported within the plan. |
New buildings should be built to the highest sustainability standards. |
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Emissions from data storage |
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Other |
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Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic |
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X |
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All new homes are likely to produce waste. However, funds should be collected to organise the recovery of this and fed into appropriate infrastructure, as set out within the IDP. |
Collection of funds to implement waste collection and recycling. |
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Reduce water consumption |
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X |
All new development will by its nature increase demands on local
water consumption.
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Policies in the Local Plan asks developers to consider water
consumption within the design of new properties. |
A long-term objective of the Local plan is to conserve water resources, and both protect and enhance the quality of water bodies within the Selby District area. |
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Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)
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X |
There is the potential for new development to affect the consumption of electricity and fossil fuels in Buildings and vehicles and increase pollution.
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Policies will ensure that the highest levels of sustainability are achieved through the design of buildings as well as a requirement for major new development to explore community energy systems such as combined heat and power (CHP), combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) and district heating networks where development is in proximity to existing sources of heat generations or there is sufficient heat density/demand to anchor loads.
The Plan also explains that where shared energy systems are not available for new development, all development should consider the use of renewable energy generation using ground and air source heat pumps, thermal panels, photovoltaic panels, or small-scale wind turbines.
The plan also seeks to facilitate initiatives to reduce emissions from freight transport by safeguarding rail sidings and wharfs for transhipment opportunities in the future.
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A key aim through the Local Plan is to continue to drive down CO2 emissions from all sources and this is a long-term vision. The plan acknowledges that there are a range of further opportunities to generate more energy from renewable sources within the district. This is through larger-scale energy generation, providing that this is done with sensitivity to the surrounding landscape and environment. It also includes policies for how opportunities for Low Carbon and Renewable Energy generation and storage should be further considered. |
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Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers |
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X |
The delivery of new development changes the use of land and consequently this can have an impact on Climate Resilience.
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Policies within the plan require the design of buildings to consider the impact of increasing temperatures through incorporating the highest standards of design.
While the district is at risk of fluvial and tidal flooding, defences are in place to protect large areas and washlands and agricultural land also offer some natural protection.
The Local Plan is supported by a strategic flood risk assessment and directs development away from important areas of flood storage and the areas of highest flood risk, as well as ensuring that appropriate tests and studies including Flood Risk assessments are carried out on sites where there are any identified concerns. Site allocations and policies both seek to address and mitigate current and future flood concerns through the building design considerations and the inclusion of planting and sustainable drainage systems.
The plan will provide an increased rate of tree planting, both as part of new developments and also increased protections to existing trees and hedgerows and open space provision within new development, features which can help minimise the urban heating effect and ensure a degree of permeability of surfaces within areas of new developments.
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Ensuring Development Management processes adhere to and maximise the implementation of Local Plan policies.
Continue to support and work with further flood mitigation projects such as the Tadcaster Flood Alleviation scheme and Humber Strategy.
The Plan represents Policies and opportunities to implement green infrastructure as a means of further mitigating the effects of climate change over the long-term. |
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Enhance conservation and wildlife
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X |
There is the potential for new development to impact on conservation and wildlife. |
The Local Plan policies reflect and build upon key national legislative progress regarding wildlife and conservation. In particular - through the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain, securing opportunities for green corridors, the provision of habitat and habitat restoration and nature-based solutions. However, the plan requires established trees and hedgerows to be retained or replaced, a proportion of all new development to provide open spaces and for new development to seek to improve the natural environment we have through Biodiversity net gain and similar policies.
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The implementation of biodiversity net-gain will present new opportunities to monitor the success in delivering new habitat and biodiversity, within the Local Plan. |
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Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape
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X |
New development has the potential to impact on the existing landscape. |
The Local Plan looks to achieve growth while protecting and enhancing landscape character. Safeguarding the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape.
There are no international or national designated landscapes in the former Selby district area however the Local Plan has designated four Locally Important Landscape Areas (LILAs) which will be protected through allowing only new development which meets high-quality design principles.
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Continue to ensure the expertise of landscape architects are utilised in the consideration of Development Management proposals. |
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Other (please state below)
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Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards. |
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The Revised Publication Local Plan document is supported by a full and detailed Sustainability Appraisal which incorporates SEA guidelines.
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Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.
The Local Plan sets out the spatial strategy for the former Selby district area in relation to housing and employment growth, with locally specific policies and site allocations which will help to shape the District’s built and natural environment. From the earliest stages of the Local Plan process, Climate Change has been a key consideration. Of course, the provision of new development and growth will bring several potential impacts. However, the former Selby district area, with its links to the energy generation sectors and industry, and with its positive attitude to growth, presented a number of opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas and carbon emissions, which are known to contribute to global warming and climate change. The Local Plan also presented opportunities to mitigate the potential impacts, such as increased temperatures and heat waves, droughts, and more intense rainfall resulting in flooding.
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Sign off section
This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature):
Date: 04/12/2023
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