The Climate Change Skills Fund (CCSF) programme in the Yorkshire and Humber region is designed to build the skills and capacity of local planning authority officers in meeting challenges associated with tackling climate change. The CCSF was announced by Central Government as part of a policy package to deliver actions on climate change.
Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (LGYH) is working with Integreat Plus to establish and manage a Planning and Climate Change Review Panel (PCCRP) as part of an emerging technical support service for the region. This panel aims to enhance the skills and knowledge for planners to deal with climate change mitigation and adaptation, and encourage communities to take positive action on climate change.
Launched this February, the PCCRP comprises a framework of independent, multidisciplinary skilled experts from a number of key built environment and associated professions; particularly, energy and renewable energy specialists, low carbon technologists, plus architects, landscape architects, planners, transport engineers, sustainable development consultants, surveyors, housing developers, urbanists, civil engineers and building surveyors who are already engaging in state of the art and exceptional low carbon development projects.
The panel advises local authorities on how developments proposed across the region address climate change issues by critically assessing the technical aspects of a scheme: whether what is proposed is appropriate and how proposals can be improved. For example, this could be: helping a local authority establish the feasibility or viability of combined heat and power, district heating or micro-generation technologies on a large scale new developments; advise on how to adapt a masterplan to incorporate green and blue infrastructure; to evaluate the comparative benefits of an allowable off-site retro-fit scheme as an alternative to providing a higher level CSH on site; or advise on suitable solutions to reduce the energy consumption of a grade II* listed building.
Integreat Plus already manages the DC Cabe affiliated Yorkshire Design Review Panel. The PCCRP builds on the tried-and-tested design review methodology to effectively assess climate change adaptation proposals for schemes at pre-planning or planning application stage. Yorkshire and Humber is the first region to establish such an expert panel and as a consequence it will undoubtedly attract national interest.
The PCCRP is through the Leadership, Skills and Support Service’s Technical Support Service. It is free and available to all local planning authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber Region.
For further information please click here or contact ruth.hardingham@lgyh.co.uk
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