Policy CE1: Climate Change - how to comply with the policy

The Royal Borough’s Core Strategy was adopted on 8 December 2010. Following adoption of the Core Strategy, Policy CE1 in the ‘Respecting Environmental Limits’ chapter 36 is being applied when considering and determining planning applications.

The Council has chosen BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes as the methods to assess the sustainability performance of buildings. Applications for new buildings and refurbishments are required to meet the following minimum standards:

• New Residential Developments of 800m2 (Gross External Area GEA) or more are required to submit a pre-assessment Code for Sustainable Homes report to demonstrate that Level 4 has been achieved.
• New Non Residential Developments of 1,000m2 (GEA) or more are required to submit the relevant pre-assessment BREEAM report to demonstrate that an Excellent rating has been achieved.
• Conversions and refurbishments of Residential Developments of 800m² (GEA) or more and of Non-Residential Developments of 1,000m² (GEA) or more are required to submit an Ecohome pre-assessment report to demonstrate that the conversion or refurbishment meets EcoHomes Very Good with 40 per cent of the available credits achieved under the Energy, Water and Materials sections individually (or comparable BREEAM for refurbishment when it is published).
• Subterranean extensions that need planning permission are required to submit an pre-assessment report to demonstrate that the entire dwelling meets EcoHomes Very Good with 40 per cent of the available credits achieved under each of the Energy, Water and Materials sections (or comparable BREEAM for refurbishment when it is published). For further information see subterranean development applications.

If your application falls within one of these categories, it will be considered against Policy CE1 and, notwithstanding any other matters arising from the Council’s assessment of the application, failure to provide such an assessment may result in the application being refused for non compliance with Policy CE1.

If permission is granted, a condition will be attached to require a final certificate that demonstrates the requirements of the policy have been met prior to occupation.

Details of the Code for Sustainable Homes/BREEAM/Ecohomes can be found on the Planning Portal, on the Department for Communities and Local Government website and on the BRE website. Accreditation bodies as of March 2010 included BRE and STROMA. Other bodies may become licensed in the future.

Only assessments prepared by qualified assessors will be accepted. Here is the list of all accredited assessors.