Sustainable planning, economy and energy efficient homes

The council is responible for producing the Local Plan, a document that guides where new development can go and be targeted across the city.

With a growing population and demand for new homes, we need to ensure development occurs. However, it should not cause undue damage to the environment, and homes and buildings should be built with high levels of energy efficiency and with other environmental considerations embedded.

We produced a series of documents to highlight how developments can be built to high quality environmental standards. These are known as supplementary planning documents (SPDs) and are considered when planning applications are received.

We have SPDs on:

• climate change
• active travel
• biodiversity

However, there are already many existing homes in the city that would benefit from energy efficiency improvements such as insulation.

These improvements could help you save money on your energy bills and make your home warmer. We have been working to help residents get access to energy advice and grants to support this.

Overall, none of the work to deliver more environmental homes, create habitats suitable for wildlife or reduce waste production will happen without businesses who are upskilled to support this.

Businesses need to be supported to offer work that delivers environmental benefit, but also better understand what their impact on the environment is and how they can reduce this.

Projects we are working on

Projects that support the development of more environmental homes and buildings, alongside supporting the green economy:

• Promoting impartial energy advice services that are available to residents. These services can help residents who are struggling to pay bills or keep warm in their homes by helping them access forms of grants and support.Find a range of these organisations and support


• Promote and advertise grant funding and support schemes to help people improve the energy efficiency of their home.
  
  These funds can help people, particularly those on lower incomes or living with eligible health conditions, to access funding for measures like wall and loft insulation, solar photovoltatic (PV) panels and heating system replacements.Find more information on these grants


• Reviewing the opportunity to include updated policies for house building into the local plan that emphasise the inclusion of high levels of energy efficiency, low carbon forms of heating and production of renewable energy.
  
  Essex County Council, working with consultants and legal companies have developed an evidence base for building homes and buildings to net zero that is both legally, technically and financially viable.
  
  This evidence base has been made into a policy outlining the key principles for achieving net zero homes. We have consulted on the policy to gain views about its suitability for including in our local plan.


• Promote training opportunities available to businesses to help them learn more about their environmental impact and ways to reduce it. We promote the courses that Colchester Institute deliver on carbon literacy and also signpost to the business advice pack produced by Essex County Council.