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

Please note: You may not need to undertake this assessment if your proposal will be subject to any of the following: Planning Permission Environmental Impact Assessment Strategic Environmental Assessment However, you will still need to summarise your findings in the summary section of the form below. Please contact beyond.carbon@northyorks.gov.uk for advice.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Title of proposal

Request to bid for Warm Homes: Local Grant

Brief description of proposal

To seek approval to receive £9.5m per annum, for 3 years from the Warm Homes: Local Grant, which would be used to support the delivery of energy efficiency related measures, reduce fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions.

Directorate

Community Development

Service area

Housing

Lead officer

Lynn Williams

Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment

Hannah Nutsey, Climate Change Business Partner (Community Development)

Date impact assessment started

21.11.2024

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Not to accept allocated funding: this was rejected as the Warm Homes: Local Grant supports investment in privately owned housing in the county to improve public health and support the low carbon economic transition.

 

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 effect on the budget is cost neutral. No match funding is required from the Council, as set out in the main report.

The proposal is to seek £9.5m per annum for a maximum of 3 years from the Warm Homes: Local Grant. Local Authorities will receive an upfront payment at the start of each financial year of the Grant, consisting of up to 20% of the Grant allocation for that year.

 

During the delivery stage, funding will primarily be drawn down in batches as needed to upgrade homes that are ‘ready to retrofit’ (signed up, validated, and assessed in line with PAS 2035). Detailed guidance on the mobilisation and delivery stages is expected to be published in February 2025.

 

 

 

 

How will this proposal impact on the environment?


N.B. There may be short term negative impact and longer term positive impact. Please include all potential impacts over the lifetime of a project and provide an explanation.

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.

 

Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible.

Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.

 

Emissions from travel

 

 

x

There will be some emissions from suppliers when delivering the programme.

The end purpose is to reduce carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency of domestic dwellings, this is not possible without the suppliers travel and construction activity.

 

Emissions from construction

 

 

x

As above

 As above

 

Emissions from running of buildings

x

 

 

Housing energy efficiency and low carbon heating will be installed

 

 Use interventions as case studies

Emissions from data storage

 

 

x

There will be some emissions from suppliers when delivering the programme.

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic

 

x

 

 

 

 

Reduce water consumption

 

x

 

 

 

 

Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)

 

x

 

 

Installation of low carbon heating and energy efficiency will result in less fossil fuels being used to generate electricity

 

 

Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers

x

 

 

Designs for each intervention will take into account longer term climate change implications

 

 

Enhance conservation and wildlife

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape

 

 

x

 

Planning permission and listed building consents will be required for interventions.

 

 

 

Other (please state below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards.

 

PAS 2035 standards are a requirement of the bid process and interventions used.

PAS 2035:2019 offers an end-to-end framework for the application of energy retrofit measures to existing buildings in the UK and provides best practices for their implementation. the UK government’s 2015 commission of the Each Home Counts (ECH) review called for the establishment of an industry-wide Code of Practice, which resulted in the publication of the PAS 2035 document.

 

 

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.

 

 

This grant from DESNZ is one of a series of funding opportunities to support public and private sector housing to install energy efficiency and low carbon heating interventions.

Domestic housing is one of North Yorkshire’s highest carbon emission sectors with an estimated 19% of the total. The York and North Yorkshire Routemap to Carbon Negative (‘The Routemap’) identifies improvements to home energy efficiency and low carbon heating as a priority to meet our ambitions to be a carbon negative region by 2040.

 

Improving home energy efficiency also has many ‘co benefits’ including improved health outcomes from warmer homes, reducing fuel poverty and supporting low-income residents to switch to low carbon heating. Investment spend in this geographic area will provide economic boost to local supply chains as part of the transition to the low carbon economy.

 

Sign off section.

 

This climate change impact assessment was completed by:

 

Name

Hannah Nutsey

Job title

Climate Change Business Partner

Service area

Community Development

Directorate

Environment Directorate

Signature

 

Completion date

7/12/2024

 

Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): A Rowe

 

Date: 7/12/2024