NPF4 planning guidance: policy 2 - climate mitigation and adaptation

2. Core Principles and Approach to Climate Mitigation and Adaptation

2.0.1 Successful development that improves people’s lives and helps make sustainable, liveable and productive places, stems from, and is delivered by, an open and collaborative approach that follows best practice principles. The following core principles are equally relevant in responding to and addressing both climate mitigation and adaptation, and will be relevant at both the development planning and project level:

2.0.2 Early and effective dialogue

Early consideration of opportunities for both climate mitigation and adaptation can help deliver the best outcomes and can help avoid the cost of later ‘retrofit’ or re-design. For mitigation this principle is important as the ability to influence GHG emissions reduction for a project reduces over time^[1].

Established practice in considering GHG emissions acknowledges that the level of detail provided should be commensurate with and proportionate to the stage at which the project is being considered, and that early consideration of lifecycle greenhouse gases is key to their effective minimisation (as set out in PAS 2080^[2]).

2.0.3 A place-based approach

A place-based approach – as set out in the Place Principle^[3] - is about understanding the issues, interconnections and relationships in a place. It is about collaboration to coordinate action and investment, to improve the quality of life for that community. This approach is a key component in helping address the climate mitigation and adaptation needs of a place in a way that also delivers on other benefits for the community. These needs can often be addressed by measures that address both mitigation and adaptation, however there may be instances where there will be a need for trade-offs between the two aims.

2.0.4 A proportionate and transparent approach.

Making use of relevant and established tools and standards in a proportionate manner will help to avoid undue burden and enable meaningful assessment which supports informed decision-making. Where there is uncertainty about how aspects of a proposal may be delivered, it will be important to acknowledge the nature and extent of any uncertainties or data limitations, and to take a transparent approach in managing any assessment limitations and dealing with uncertainty.

2.0.5 Avoiding duplication.

Where other regulatory regimes or assessment obligations apply, these should be identified at an early stage so that assessment requirements can be aligned and integrated wherever possible to minimise any duplication and ensure efficiency. For example, an Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of a local development plan can inform project-level Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). For projects where an EIA is required the consideration of GHG emissions should form part of the EIA process.

It is a long-established principle that the planning system should not duplicate other regulatory regimes. Where any relevant standards or obligations apply under other regulatory regimes, for example energy standards within Scottish building regulations, these can be taken into account as ‘assumed mitigation’ in any assessment and it should be made clear that this has been done.