As reported in Planning Resource, and elsewhere:
A Devon council has voted to give "appropriate weight" to climate change policies in its local plan and to develop new policies to strengthen its approach to environmental concerns in the wake of the authority declaring a "climate emergency" and the government's new statutory 2050 zero carbon target.
Teignbridge District Council voted to support the recommendations in this report, the purpose being:
To make clear what the current provisions are within the Local Plan for addressing the climate change challenge and to agree that these are given a weight which reflects fully the council’s declaration of a climate emergency and the new national statutory carbon reduction target. The report also sets out the Council’s direction of travel for a new suite of policies to address the climate change challenges as part of the update to the Local Plan and the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan.
with the justification that:
The Council has a responsibility through its planning functions to ensure that new development supports the transition to a low carbon future. Existing policies of the Local Plan should be implemented as effectively as possible and timely progress on the Local Plan update will enable us prepare new policies which are able to achieve the most positive impact and change. Addressing the energy and climate change challenge not only benefits the environment but has social and economic benefits too, helping to improve energy security, reduce fuel poverty, increase revenue from renewable energy generation and support general health and wellbeing of our population.
Teignbridge to 'beef-up' climate change reduction policies as it aims to be carbon neutral by 2025https://t.co/c4b8hFRVrt— Devon Live News (@DevonLiveNews) October 9, 2019
