News
ODPM Publishes its Sustainable Development Action Plan
17th March 2006
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has published its Sustainable Development Action Plan to highlight progress in implementing its commitment to sustainable development through its policies for creating sustainable communities.
The Action Plan sets out how the ODPM is contributing to the cross-Government UK Sustainable Development Strategy, 'Securing the Future', launched by the Prime Minister in March 2005.
ODPM Sustainable Development Minister Baroness Andrews said: "Our aim at the ODPM is to create sustainable and inclusive communities for the 21st century, places where people want to live, that promote opportunity and sustain a better quality of life for all. Creating sustainable communities therefore means putting principles of sustainable development into practice.
"The ODPM acknowledges the long-term nature of the challenge, particularly in regard to climate change, and the need to make serious changes in policy and behaviour now across the economy and society. This Action Plan sets out our commitment and contribution to the UK Sustainable Development Strategy over the next 12 months."
The Action Plan shows how the work of the ODPM in creating sustainable communities embodies the principles of sustainable development through a range of milestones, including:
* Revised Building Regulations coming into force which, combined with changes in 2002, improve the energy efficiency of new buildings by 40 per cent. We will also consult on new regulations for water efficiency later this year;
* Introducing a new Code for Sustainable Homes which sets high standards for new homes to increase environmental sustainability and give home owners better information about running costs. The Code will form the basis for the next wave of improvements to building regulations;
* A review of the sustainability of existing homes led by ODPM to identify possible incentives, voluntary initiatives and regulations to improve energy and water efficiency as well as flood resilience, which will report later this year;
* Development of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25, to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages of the planning process;
* A new policy on waste planning, PPS10, to help deliver the waste facilities needed for sustainable waste management;
* A new planning statement for housing policy, PPS3, aimed at creating sustainable, inclusive, mixed communities in all areas as part of our response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply. We have also put in place a new Green Belt Direction;
* Reviewing whether local and regional development plans are fully promoting the use of renewable energy in line with PPS22;
* Developing the role of the planning system in tackling climate change as embodied in PPS1. Possible options include a more detailed statement on climate change considerations or updated practice guidance;
* A review of permitted development rights enjoyed by householders to make it easier to install micro-generation equipment such as micro-wind and heat pumps in their homes;
* Local Area Agreements and Safer, Stronger Communities funding to enable the creation of cleaner, safer and greener town centres and better quality public spaces.
