Draft Sustainable Environment and Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Why are we consulting?

The Council is seeking views from all stakeholders to help ensure that the SPD is fit for purpose, and will result in the best possible outcomes for Brent in helping to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

Why do we need this SPD?

The Council in July 2019 declared a climate and ecological emergency and committed to ‘do all reasonable in the council’s gift to aim for carbon neutrality by 2030.’ A subsequent Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (2021-2030) was developed. This established a framework for action to tackle climate change in the borough. It identified that tackling the climate and ecological emergency requires action across a number of different and complex environmental issues, ranging from: carbon reduction; water conservation, cleaner air, healthy and active travel, biodiversity loss, greener spaces, adapting to global heating, warm homes, reducing waste and growing the green and circular economy.

The SPD will ensure that these matters are addressed effectively in new developments, and will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

What will this build on? 

The recently adopted London Plan 2021 and Brent Local Plan 2019-2041 contain a number of policy requirements that tackle climate change factors. The mayor has also introduced a number of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and more recently London Plan Guidance (LPG) documents. These, and emerging draft LPGs provide further advice on how climate change policies can be addressed.

At the local level, it is considered that it is now necessary to produce a document that provides clarity on how developments in Brent can address climate change factors, taking account of local policies. To simplify matters, this makes suitable reference to London Plan policies, SPGs and LPGs, as well as Brent Local Plan policies and SPDs. The guidance relates to both major and minor developments.

What's included in the draft Sustainable Environment and Development SPD?

The Sustainable Environment and Development draft SPD addresses the below key subject themes:

a)         Air quality,

b)         Green infrastructure,

c)         Water management,

d)         Energy,

e)         Sustainable movement,

f)           Waste management and the circular economy, and

g)         Other environmental impacts, such as noise, odour, dust, vibration, light pollution and contamination.

How is the SPD structured?

For each theme it sets out:

a)         Brent as existing and in the future,

b)         Policies, guidance and tools,

c)         Key policy considerations,

d)         Assessments and mitigation measures,

e)         Development Management planning requirements,

f)           Planning conditions and obligations, and

g)         Monitoring requirements.

Engagement to date

There has been extensive engagement internally (development management, air quality, environmental health, parks, transport, waste management and climate change teams) and where necessary externally (Natural England) with relevant people and bodies to inform the content of the document. All are positive about the document and recognise its intention to address creating more sustainable development.

Consultation details

The consultation will run for a period of 6 weeks from 16th February to 30th March 2023. Documents will be made available at Brent Council libraries.

Please fill in a response on this portal, alternatively responses can be sent to planningstrategy@brent.gov.uk or sent to: Paul Lewin, Planning Policy Team Leader, Brent Civic Centre, Engineer’s Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. Please note that the Council will not register anonymous responses. You should provide your name and if relevant, the organisation that you are working for, and that which you might be representing.

Area of coverage

The London Borough of Brent, with the exception of areas in which the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation is the Local Planning Authority.

Data protection

When reporting the consultation responses, organisation names will be referenced by the Council. However, no individual’s name or personal details of respondents will be made publicly available. Please can you indicate with your response whether you wish to be informed by the Council of whether the forum status is approved. Please also indicate if you would like to be informed of other planning policy consultations by having your details put on our planning policy consultation database. This information will only be used in relation to consultations on the Council’s planning and associated documents. Unless you indicate that you want to be put on this database, your personal details will only be kept until the Council makes a decision on whether to proceed with the approval of the forum or not and has subsequently issued the appropriate notifications. Please see our privacy policy for more details.