Ref: LCO-014

Proposed Building Guidelines Legislative Competence Order

Mick Bates

Pre-ballot Information: Outline Proposed Legislative Competence Order

Outline of proposed Order

Field 18 (town and country planning) of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 is to be amended as follows: Add the following matters to Field 18: town and country planning: provision to amend legislation relating to building guidelines in Wales

Pre-ballot Information: Explanatory Memorandum

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Order

To introduce regulations in Wales that would ensure all new buildings are built to the highest possible environmental standards. This would include homes in the public and private sectors, as well as public and Government buildings. At present around 25% of Carbon emissions come from the building sector.  As a result it is one of the largest contributors to climate change.  This figure will continue to rise unless appropriate action is taken at the planning stage. This is a policy to drastically reduce carbon emissions from the buildings and help combat climate change.  It is in keeping with the Welsh Assembly Government’s statutory commitment to Sustainable Development.   The legislation would place an obligation on planning authorities to implement new guidelines during the planning phase of all new build.  As a result Planning Authorities would only give planning permission to developers if appropriate environmental criteria had been fulfilled.     

Support Received

On Tuesday 13^th February 2007, the Welsh Assembly Government published a policy statement outlining a programme of action to tackle and deal with climate change.  This programme included achieving zero carbon levels for all new build by 2011.