Planning matters

The UK has committed to Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Transport is currently the largest carbon emitting sector of the UK economy, responsible for 27% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, and so transition to electric vehicles (EVs) will be one of the most important actions to achieve this target. In May 2019, the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) suggested that all new vehicles should be electrically propelled by 2035, if not sooner, to achieve the Net Zero target. Following this, in November 2020, the Prime Minister announced as part of the Government’s 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution, that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be phased out by 2030 and that all new cars and vans would be zero emission by 2035. This target was then reaffirmed at COP26 in November 2021 when the UK Government alongside other countries, cities, manufacturers, and others committed to the 2035 target for leading markets and globally by 2040.  But how to get there? Great strides are already being taken to achieve this EVs ambition with a variety of initiatives employed to encourage the uptake of EVs. For example, in July 2021, alongside the transport decarbonisation plan, the Government published a 2035 delivery plan which outlines the policies and investments the Government is taking to support the transition to zero emission cars and vans. This includes exemptions from Vehicle Excise Duty (or car tax as most of us know it) and favourable company car tax rates continuing until at least March 2025 alongside an investment of £1.3 billion to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure on motorways, on streets, in homes, and in workplaces. Meanwhile, others are also working hard on strategies to ensure that the network grid itself can service the uplift in electricity demand from EVs as they become more common. Another example is ensuring additional capacity for battery manufacturing that are critical to electric cars. Lichfields recently played a central role in securing planning permission, on behalf of Envision AESC UK Ltd, for a new Gigaplant capable of producing world-leading lithium-ion batteries for more than 100,000 EVs per year at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland. Better infrastructure and extending battery range are key to dealing with issues of ‘range anxiety’ which has been holding EV car ownership back. From a planning and development industry perspective, much of the focus has been on ensuring new development schemes are fit for purpose now and in the future. Most Local Plans have for some time required that car parking provision within new developments includes a proportion of EV spaces, alongside passive provision for future conversion. However, the Government has recently announced its plans to accelerate the installation of electric charging infrastructure across the country. In November 2021, the Government announced what it refers to as ‘world leading regulations’ requiring that new homes and buildings such as supermarkets and workplaces, as well as those undergoing major renovation, install EV charge points from 2022. The details of this are still emerging but reportedly this will ensure up to 145,000 extra charge points will be installed across England each year, helping ready communities for the all-electric future.   But what about existing communities? In the zero-carbon discourse generally there is increasingly a recognition of the importance of retrofitting existing buildings and communities to ensure they are also fit for purpose for the net zero carbon future. A case in point is in the City of Westminster, where as part of its 2040 Climate Emergency Action Plan, it is planning to deliver 1,500 charge points across the city in 2022. Another example is Cotswold District Council which has prepared a Net Zero Carbon Toolkit which includes a section on retrofit to help homeowners looking to implement energy efficiency measures, including steps to plan for EV charging. For individual homes or property assets, permitted development rights can be used to install EV charging infrastructure which meet certain size and height conditions. Schedule 2, Part 2, Class D of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) states that planning permission is not required for the installation of a wall mounted electrical outlet for recharging of EVs as long as the area is lawfully used for off–street parking. In addition, Class E of the Order allows the installation of an upstand with an electrical outlet mounted on it. Increasingly we are helping our clients that manage existing assets such as shopping centres and industrial parks review the use of these permitted development rights or secure planning permission for charging points where permitted development rights cannot be used. There is still much work to be done. For example, these permitted development rights cannot be used by those who live in a listed building and so planning permission and listed building consent is needed. For some this will be a hurdle too far and so as an industry we need to find a way to make this easier for those affected to embrace EVs whilst protecting the historic environment from unintended harm where listed buildings are concerned. Similarly, for those who don’t have the privilege of off-street parking, alternative solutions need to be found. In some cases, such as in Brighton and Redbridge, lamp post charging points are available but demand in the future is likely to far outstrip supply, and so other options are likely to be needed. On a broad scale, this could include the redevelopment of petrol stations, replacing petrol and diesel pumps with EV charging points alongside the development of entirely new infrastructure stations. In many rural communities, these stations would provide an essential top-up service alongside associated shopping facilities. Infrastructure planning has always been a big part of our work over the last 60 years, whether that’s been assisting with obtaining planning permission for Stansted Airport or our work on new Woodsmith polyhalite mine, the deepest mine in Europe. EVs present an entirely different set of issues and challenges, potentially affecting every street and home in and beyond the UK. The car industry has got the bit between its teeth now with a rush of new models and much extended battery range. The Government has a plan and whilst it’s not clear how it’s all going to be implemented, there is already much momentum behind EVs. Whilst much of the focus has been on ensuring new development schemes are fit for purpose, there is still work to be done to fully embrace EVs and help realise our net zero carbon future.  

International Women's Day (IWD) marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality and, as planners we have a role to play in promoting and delivering equality. This year's IWD theme is 'Break the Bias' and urban planning is certainly a sphere in which this message must be spread. So, how can we break the biases in the way we plan our cities… 1.  Urban design strategies Urban design strategies for developments and public places need to eradicate the gendered nature of many spaces and create an environment that is suitable for women. I have come across the matter of women's ability to safely and fairly access and traverse cities many times, in both my career as an urban planner and in life as a woman. While we may like to think otherwise, it is widely acknowledged that urban areas have historically been designed to be more suitable for able-bodied, heterosexual, cis-gender men. A sense of space should be created so there are no hidden or isolated crevice-like areas, or routes people, especially women, don’t feel are safe to use at night. Design strategies should be adopted that encourage activation and natural surveillance to ensure women feel safe and happy to pass through and dwell in the public realm. Secure by Design requirements may influence some of these factors but architects must be careful that barriers and crime prevention installations, such as high walls and gates to limit access, do not inadvertently conflict with urban design strategies for women’s safety such as opening up areas and increasing visibility. Linked to this, there should also be ease of movement around the public realm. For example, consideration is needed of everyday practices still largely undertaken by women, like pushing a baby in a pram. Uneven surfaces and narrow, cluttered pavements do not provide an environment conducive with inclusive accessibility. 2.  Necessary street infrastructure Street lighting, more toilets and step-free access… ordinary but fundamental street infrastructure that needs to be appropriately placed and well-maintained – and should not have to be campaigned for. Quite simply, this infrastructure needs to feature in development proposals; there is a legal and policy requirement for lighting strategies and inclusive access for new schemes, which hopefully highlights these matters early on in the design process and should be in the minds of designers and planners. We can all work to take the minimum requirements further to provide better infrastructure for all. Equal access should not be a tick box exercise. Change.org: Petition for better street lighting on Clapham Common, following the murder of Sarah Everard – one year ago last week.   3.  Consulting underrepresented voices Consultation is a fundamental part of the planning process and incorporating underrepresented voices in consultation and participation exercises is crucial to designing schemes that work on the ground for the people who will use it. Development teams therefore need to work harder to devise consultation strategies that will allow harder to reach groups and those who may not speak out as loudly as others to give their opinions. The town hall style meeting is clearly not an appropriate forum for everyone… 4.  Play space for all Implementing play space and landscaping strategies that encourage girls and young women to play and interact is a key way to ensure public spaces are less gendered. Make Space for Girls campaigns for facilities and public spaces for teenage girls, in recognition of the fact that the default provision for play space in new developments is to include a skate park, BMX track, football pitch or MUGA, which are used far more by young boys. Check out: https://makespaceforgirls.co.uk/ and especially their Instagram @make_space_for_girls for some interesting case studies and research pieces. Make Space for Girls: Case study of a park in Stockholm that was designed with a focus group of girls.   5.  Women's representation in planning and related professions  I do believe this is improving, but more women at senior levels in sectors related to planning, architecture, development, construction is so key to designing inclusive places. If there is a lack of women in the decision-making chain, women’s experiences are less likely to influence the product. Lichfields’ upcoming Senior Director announcements make me hopeful for more equal representation in the decision-making positions for our company. 6.  Funding to tackle inequality Ultimately, funding is needed for many projects seeking to tackle inequality to go ahead. One GLA initiative, open for applications until late April, is the Civil Society Roots grant, targeting groups led by and for communities impacted by structural inequalities in 10 London boroughs. Grants between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for ideas that help develop new partnerships, for work on a collaborative community project or to invest in capacity building and training: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/civil-society/civil-society-roots. There are various funds available to help with projects and grassroots ideas which could be utilised for urban initiatives that tackle gender inequality and I am hopeful these are put to good use. We must deliberately adopt a gender lens when approaching development, to help recognise the differing experiences of women in spaces and ensure that the male experience is no longer the default option in design. Urban planning and design alone cannot eradicate sexism and violence against women – a societal and structural change is still much needed in that regard – but hopefully the above highlights that there is a lot than can, should and is being done to tackle gender, and other, inequalities in cities. So, my key takeaway for IWD2022 as a planning professional is to make a purposeful effort to help curate places that are meaningfully designed to accommodate women and encourage others to do the same. Please consider this a plea to those responsible for making places: prioritise inclusive accessibility around cities, adopt a gender lens when thinking about urban planning, and implement thoughtful design interventions on the ground to break the biases currently evident in our urban environments. International Women’s Day 2022: Download a pledge card here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/SelfieCards