Tackling climate change through the planning system

The Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on Planning and Climate Change was published in December. Among other things it requires all councils to limit carbon emissions by setting targets for using local renewable sources and low carbon energy in new housing developments.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has commissioned Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and Faber Maunsell to develop practice guidance on delivering the policies in the PPS. A working draft of that guidance is now available from ERM's website (www.erm.com/practiceguideance). By publishing a working draft ERM and Faber Maunsell hope to gain a better understanding of the respects in which practitioners want the guidance to be further developed. They are also keen to include as much good practice as possible and draw on early experience of implementing the PPS.Read more

London's poor air quality tackled with launch of Low Emission Zone

The Mayor of London has launched the London-wide Low Emission Zone, designed to reduce harmful emissions from the most polluting diesel-engined lorries, coaches and buses. Cars and motorcycles are not affected.

The Mayor of London has launched the London-wide Low Emission Zone, designed to reduce harmful emissions from the most polluting diesel-engined lorries, coaches and buses. Read more