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 |
North Yorkshire Destination Management Plan |
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Brief description of proposal |
A new Destination Management Plan for North Yorkshire. |
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Directorate |
Community Development |
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Service area |
Economic Development, Regeneration, Tourism and Skills |
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Lead officer |
Kathryn Daly – Assistant Director ED, Regeneration, Tourism & Skills |
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Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment |
Craig Nattress – Place Development Manager |
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Date impact assessment started |
27/09/2024 |
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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.
The alternative option considered was not to progress with a Destination Management Plan for North Yorkshire, However, a strategic plan to guide the most appropriate actions for the Council to achieve a holistic approach to destination management is necessary to ensure actions are co-ordinated and backed by the tourism sector. The wider Council’s aspirations to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2034 are an important part of the plan, combined with the adherence to the recommended actions, in accordance with North Yorkshire Council and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority policy.
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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.
At this stage, the only impact on budgets has been the cost of the plan’s creation. There will however be cost implications for the delivery of action plans and projects that flow from it, but these cannot be quantified at this stage, nor can the external investment it is hoped can be secured to offset some of the costs against specific activity. Specific business cases will be developed on a case-by-case basis if additional council resources are required to progress actions.
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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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X |
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The transition to one local county wide authority presents opportunities to work more closely with public transport operators and colleagues in transport planning on the development of improved service provision and information for visitors and residents. The additional opportunities that the York & North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority presents for the funding of improvements to public transport will support the DMP objectives on improved public transport services, better links between key destinations, promotion of services and improvements in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. Impact on reducing emissions will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP |
Improved service provision and better promotion of public transport services will encourage more people to take sustainable methods of transport. |
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Emissions from construction |
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X |
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Any sector construction developments will have to be built to modern standards e.g. hotels or attractions. The DMP also seeks to develop the economic opportunities that tourism industry decarbonisation brings which will help mitigate any negative impacts. |
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Emissions from running of buildings |
X |
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The plan has identified the considerable economic potential that decarbonisation of buildings within the tourism supply represents. Developing skills and capacity in this area will result in a positive impact on emissions from buildings, in addition to economic and social benefits for residents. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP, particularly because the buildings in question are private sector owned |
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Collaboration with the North Yorkshire Council and York and North Yorkshire Climate Change team and working closely with sector bodies, such as Visit England, on decarbonisation activity, will help improve outcomes. |
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Emissions from data storage |
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X |
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Any data storage implications could be offset by growth in the green energy sector. Difficult to quantify at this stage but anticipate no overall impact.[HN2] |
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Other |
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Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic |
X |
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Development of more local supply chains and productivity improvements are two areas of action within the Council’s Economic Growth Strategy, and which is also a priority area for the national tourism industry. The plan includes actions in support of businesses to reduce waste and drive sustainable and regenerative activity within the sector. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP[HN3] |
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The wider tourism sector is moving from a sustainable growth approach to a model of regenerative tourism and the DMP will aim to encourage and provide support to initiatives that develop this ambition. |
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Reduce water consumption |
X |
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Improved awareness of sustainable practice, including water is likely to help reduce consumption, particularly across the accommodation sector. Overall impact is likely to be positive. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP. |
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Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)[HN4]
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X |
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Growing the sustainable travel sector and improving the electricity infrastructure, including that for charging of electric vehicles is likely to have a positive impact. Improving productivity and efficiency of the sector, including utilisation/elimination of waste streams will further reduce waste and pollution, combined with improved messaging on the impacts of all forms of pollution on the resident population, are areas of work to implement within the DMP. This will be balanced against the impacts of visitor growth and new sector developments. Difficult to quantify at a high-level plan stage but the ambition is to have a positive impact. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP |
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Working with our Protected Landscapes partners to align sustainable and regenerative tourism messaging. |
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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 |
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The plan acknowledges the value of the Protected Landscapes and support for their respective Management Plans on sustainable development and regenerative tourism activity and initiatives, seeking to new measures to address climate change and energy efficiency, including new product development opportunities. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP |
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Enhance conservation and wildlife
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X |
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See above re support for Protected Landscapes, improved messaging around pollution and supportive of green infrastructure, to help support conservation and wildlife. Any new development resultant from the plan will have to comply with current planning regulations and the principle of bio-diversity net gain. Existing developments and growth of indigenous business is unlikely to have a significant impact but again at the high-level plan stage it is hard to quantify the overall impact and this will need to be considered more carefully at the detailed action plans stage. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP[HN5] |
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Linkages to be made on the development and implementation of the York and North Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. We will Work with the Protected Landscapes to ensure that visitor numbers are managed in beauty hotspots and visitors are educated on not harming wildlife. E.g. made aware of ground nesting birds, ensuring dogs are kept on leads around livestock. |
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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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Place and natural capital are important assets to North Yorkshire and feature strongly in the DMP. Apart from their value to the visitors that come to North Yorkshire these assets underpin the county’s attractiveness as a place to live and work. The plan seeks to protect and enhance our places and makes improved quality of place a key aspect of future visitor economy projects. Impact will be long term and will be difficult to quantify specifically in relation to the DMP |
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Working with our Protected Landscape partners and Landowners, via the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, we are committed to supporting respective Management Plans and the onus on us all to ensure we safeguard the characteristics and qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscapes. |
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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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Not at this stage of the Destination Management Plan. The forthcoming York and North Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and DEFRA’s Environmental Improvement Plan will guide and inform future good environmental practice that the DMP can support throughout its duration.
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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 new Destination Management Plan recognises the challenge of North Yorkshire Council’s ambition of reaching Net Zero and provides significant opportunities for the tourism sector across North Yorkshire to support the transition to become carbon negative. This includes a range of actions that support the transition of visitor economy businesses to a more environmentally sustainable footing, encourages the use of sustainable transport to the region’s visitors, raises the awareness of the importance of the county’s Protected Landscapes’ and our natural habitats, with the aim of utilising devolution funding to support the move to carbon negative. The DMP aims to deliver tourism growth in a way that stimulates low carbon activity and seeks to minimise the carbon generation from new tourism development and investment. A range of actions to our places will enhance travel by public transport and active travel whilst creating measures to deal with climate change and improve the quality of life of residents.
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Sign off section
This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Kathryn Daly
Date: 1/10/24
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