World News- 20th November 2021

Fig 1.1 Green City Nottingham (Nottingham city council, 2020)​

What will the planning guidance look like in 2028?​

In a previous blog, we talked about the introduction of a carbon neutral design guide for Nottingham, being realised in March 2022. However, the journey to becoming carbon neutral may last many years.​

Nottingham aims to be a carbon neutral city by 2028. On the 13th January 2020, Nottingham City Council acknowledged the scale of the damage to the environment by declaring a Climate and Ecological Emergency at Full Council. They have proposed a Carbon Neutral Nottingham 2020-28 Plan to outline the action they will take in Nottingham in the run up to the 2030 ‘deadline’. ”Nottingham has already reduced official citywide CO2 emissions by 41% since 2005” (NCC, 2020) however this is only a small step of the way to what they aim to be in the future.​

• Carbon Reduction Measures​

• Carbon Removal ​

• Resilience and Adaption ​

• Ecology and Biodiversity ​

(Nottingham City Council, 2020)​

One way of achieving low carbon homes is to retrofit existing homes with additional insulation and better windows etc. This will be necessary for many homeowners and landlords as by 2025 landlords will be required to have an Energy Efficiency Certificate of C or more in order to rent their building. In Nottingham, 27 homes have been retrofitted with the Dutch ‘Energiesprog’ Initiative to create incredibly low energy homes through the addition of new walls and windows, solar panels and a state-of-the-art heating system. (Nottingham City Council, 2020)​

Objectives ​

• Reducing carbon emissions and energy demand from the built environment can be achieved by: ​

• Heating our buildings with low carbon and/or renewable heating and changing behaviours towards energy consumption ​

• Monitoring and encouraging energy efficiency standards and improvements ​

• Increasing the adoption of energy efficiency technologies and low-cost solutions in both commercial and domestic buildings ​

• Minimising emissions in construction of new buildings and through procurement of technologies and materials. ​

(Nottingham City Council, 2020)​

Opportunities​

• Reducing energy bills for residents and local businesses ​

• Upgrading the quality of housing stock, making homes healthier and creating new sustainable homes ​

• Improving the quality of commercial premises, helping make more productive and better working environments ​

• Improving air quality by reducing emissions of NOx from gas boilers. ​

• Creating new skilled employment and commercial opportunities within the sustainable construction sector. ​

(Nottingham City Council, 2020)​

This impacts us as a company because we are setting up our business whilst many new Government and local council planning guidances’ are released meaning we must keep up to date with the rules and regulations of the UK and Nottingham. We are aiming to be a Carbon Neutral Company, so the introduction of Carbon Neutrality to the City in 2028 does not hinder our business, it only compliments it, as people seeking planning permission will have to opt for Carbon Neutral designs no matter what. This means that we will have more potential clients, as this is something we specialise in. There will also be support from the Council as a result of the push to be a carbon neutral city.​

“Nottingham City Council: Actions we can take in partnership ​

2.5.2 Work with businesses and citizens across Nottingham by providing information and advice on low-cost technologies to reduce energy consumption in buildings (e.g. through web materials. pop-up question information stands, hosting engagement events or supplying leaflets). ​

2.6.8 Undertake research with partners to facilitate a local circular economy for material reuse in construction to reduce emissions, costs and improve sustainability​

2.4.4 Work with key partners to use procurement approaches to encourage suppliers to report on their operational emissions, and look to establish a public-facing citywide energy and carbon ratings scheme for businesses” (Nottingham City Council, 2020)​

Bibliography​

Nottingham City Council, 2020. Carbon Neutral Nottingham. 2020-2028 Action Plan [Online] Nottingham City. Available at: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/2619917/2028-carbon-neutral-action-plan-v2-160620.pdf [Accessed 20th November 2021]​

Image References​

1.1 Nottingham City Council, 2020. Green City Nottingham [Digital Image] Nottingham City. Available at: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/media/2619917/2028-carbon-neutral-action-plan-v2-160620.pdf [Accessed 20th November 2021]​