Planning

Guidance on Climate Change Planning Condition

The Planning Committee has successfully requested more renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures to be included in new developments, with a guide for developers available on the council’s website: Planning and Planning Policy - Guidance on Climate Change planning condition (swale.gov.uk).

New housing developments are encouraged to reduce carbon emissions by 50% more than required in the current Building Regulations.

Flooding and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

We work with the Environment Agency, KCC (the Lead Local Flood Authority), the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board, Southern Water and others to manage flood risk and coastal erosion and to develop Strategic Flood Risk Assessments for the borough.

Local Plan Review

In order to reflect the increased importance of climate change in the public, governments’ and Swale Borough Council’s priorities (i.e. as reflected in the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency) its importance has been elevated in the Local Plan Review. As such Climate Change and the Ecological Emergency will be golden threads running through the new Local Plan.

Electric Vehicle Strategy

The Climate and Ecological Emergency Declaration (2019) sets very ambitious targets, including net-zero across the borough by 2030. The Climate and Ecological Emergency Action Plan, which was published in April 2020, sets out the requirement to install charge points across Swale guided by an Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy. The switch from diesel and petrol to electric vehicles is an important part of the strategy to reduce our carbon emissions from transport and to improve the air quality in Swale.

The EV charging infrastructure can only be delivered in partnership with others. It requires grant funding from central government, liaison with Kent County Council as the Highways Authority, businesses to install workplace chargers and to switch their fleets, and for residents to switch to EVs. The Electric Vehicle Strategy 2022 - 2030 sets out how we plan to do this.