Creating and connecting clean, sustainable places: the first five years
NPPF reform: collaborate to reform the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure that planning authorities have a robust basis on which to demand zero carbon / carbon negative developments and to assist localities in improving transport and in planning their decentralised energy and waste systems.
Zero carbon homes standard: explore introducing a zero carbon homes standard for all new builds – this can occur without a change to Building Regulations (25). Collaborate with other regions to reduce ‘gaming’ of the changes by developers.
Design Charter to shape new neighbourhoods: aim for the Design Charter, which provides guidance to developers building new homes with WMCA resources (including on low carbon construction, operation, and resilience), to be applied to all new developments.
Investment plan for renewable heating and cooling: develop a joint regional investment plan for renewable heating and cooling, including any planned expansions of the region’s existing district heating networks and introduction of technologies like anaerobic digestion (26) (AD). The first investments should be signed off by the end of this period.
Decarbonise cement: create a plan in conjunction with Cemex and other industry partners to replace all cement used in regional construction with low carbon alternatives.
Waste into infrastructure: work with International Synergies and other industrial symbiosis experts to assess the potential in using locally produced industrial waste to create building and construction materials – for example, in creating bitumen surfaces for highways.
More green space: collaborate to increase planning requirements for green space and energy efficiency.
Boost numbers of electric taxis: use licensing to encourage take-up of electric taxis.
Reallocate parking spaces: as pricing structures are updated, explore reallocating parking spaces to car shares and electric vehicles and reduce parking charges for both as an incentive.
New fiscal levers: identify new revenue streams to invest in walking, cycling, and public transport.
Fewer parking spaces in new developments: over the medium-term, ensure that parking spaces per dwelling is reduced across the area, but notably in city centres, where density is highest and existing public transport access is greatest.
A regional approach to ULEV: approve electric vehicle strategy at WMCA Board in early 2020, which outlines a collective approach to installing charging infrastructure across the region.
Refresh Movement for Growth: refresh of the West Midlands Movement for Growth transport strategy to further the detail and thought on how the transport network can help the region meet the climate challenge – both in terms of resilience and the overall carbon budget.
More space for walking and cycling: continue reallocating road space to walking, cycling, and mass transit. Consider creating a regional body for walking and cycling so that investments made as part of Movement for Growth can be held accountable to the overall goal of achieving a modal shift that aligns to the climate challenge. We need to continue to create a ‘buzz’ around walking and cycling – telling stories which show how good life can be when you move around in this way.
More powers to invest for change: assess the powers and investment that are needed at regional and local level to unlock necessary changes in the transport network. This could include analysis to assess whether bus regulation powers as outlined in the 2017 Bus Services Act will help to deliver a low carbon, well-used bus network relative to the status quo.
(25). See https://www.ukgbc.org/ukgbc-work/advancing-net-zero/
(26). AD comes in various forms, but in essence, turns putrescible waste (like food) into biogas, which can be used in gas-fired heating systems.
(28). AD comes in various forms, but in essence, turns putrescible waste (like food) into biogas, which can be used in gas-fired heating systems.