Appendix D - 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
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Title of proposal |
North Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2024-29 |
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Brief description of proposal |
Adoption of a Housing Strategy for North Yorkshire |
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Directorate |
Community Development |
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Service area |
Housing |
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Lead officer |
Andrew Rowe |
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Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment |
Sharon Graham, John Burroughs, Vicky Young |
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Date impact assessment started |
September 2023 |
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Options appraisal Although a Housing Strategy is not a legal requirement it is good practice to have a document which sets the strategic direction of the council in relation to housing delivery and landlord services. The Housing Strategy 2024-29 is a high-level overview of the strategic vision, priorities and the actions the council will undertake to deliver its strategic housing function.
Climate change and the potential environmental impacts of our strategy are key considerations for the Housing Service and the detailed analysis of specific projects will be carried out as they come forward for political decision. This impact assessment is therefore based upon the key strategic decisions to be taken, our commitments to:
· Growing the supply of affordable and available housing · Supporting communities through neighbourhood renewal and regeneration · Decarbonising the whole housing stock, including our Council homes, making them more energy efficient and affordable to live in, reducing fuel poverty · Ensuring that new housing supply of all tenures contributes to our net zero ambitions · Addressing stock condition issues, improving poor quality housing in all tenures · Ensuring that our Council housing stock meets the decent homes standard
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What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?
The strategy will be delivered within existing service budgets and the borrowing capacity of the Housing Revenue Account.
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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 |
X |
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A key driver for new housing delivery is right houses in the right places, focussing on employment and community sustainability, reducing travel requirements and subsequently, emissions. |
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Emissions from construction |
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X |
An ambition to deliver at least 2,537 new homes per year across all tenures will generate emissions from construction however, this could be offset by the construction methods employed and subsequent gain from developing high quality, low carbon homes. |
-use of low carbon construction methods. - green space design - EPC ‘A’ in all new build council homes - making use of existing stock/ buildings where feasible. |
-use new council homes standard as an example to other developers. |
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Emissions from running of buildings |
X |
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- Commitment to EPC C for all new council homes and retrofit programme to bring all social stock Up to EPC C will reduce emissions from council homes. Committment to bringing up standards across all tenures |
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Emissions from data storage |
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X |
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Other |
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X |
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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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Reduce water consumption |
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X |
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Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)
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X |
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Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers |
X |
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A key driver for new housing delivery is right homes in the right places. - linking to design and quality in place, through the Local Plan process to ensure adaptability to climate change. |
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Enhance conservation and wildlife
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X |
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Through the commitment to neighbourhood regeneration and renewal, working with residents to ensure amenity and green space. |
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Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape
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X |
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Other (please state below)
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X |
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Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? |
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There are many examples of ways in which housing strategies can be used to further climate change ambitions and to mitigate environmental impacts. Using environmental implications as a cornerstone of decision making – as per the North Yorkshire corporate reporting process will ensure that these factors are taken into account in the housing strategy delivery projects moving forward.
Devolution commitment to implement the Routemap to Carbon Negative
Below are some examples of recognised good practice in terms of low carbon housing and green space design
Building 20,000 new low carbon homes: integrated impact assessment [HTML] | GOV.WALES defining-net-zero-discussion-paper-2021.pdf (housing.org.uk) Retrofitting the UK's housing stock to reach net zero (energysavingtrust.org.uk) bbp-low-carbon-retrofit-toolkit.pdf (betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk)
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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 Housing Strategy 2024 to 2024 does not have any explicit environmental impacts in itself, its vision or strategic themes. Specific priorities and projects identified in the Housing Strategy will have environmental impacts, for example the provision of additional housing to meet housing needs and actions around decarbonisation, retrofit and stock condition improvement. The environmental impacts associated with specific projects and work programmes identified in the action plan will be identified and addressed in the relevant project documentation for those projects / programmes as they move forward. This will be done in conjunction with the Climate Change Team and in line with the Council’s Climate Change Strategy.
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Sign off section
This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
Authorised by Assistant Director: Andrew Rowe
Date: 29th February 2024
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