fbpx
++44 (0)207 112 7590

London Plan Policies on Climate Change Adaptation

Chapter 5 in the London Plan 2016 deals with the planning policies for climate change. The first 8 policies in this chapter are reserved for climate change mitigation: i.e. they focus on measures that promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Policy 5.9 to 5.15 promote the adaptation to climate change.

Policy 5.9 overheating and cooling

At a strategic level, the aim of this London Plan policy is two-fold. Firstly the policy aims to reduce the heat-island effect through high quality design and secondly it seeks to reduce overheating in buildings as a result of the changes in climate:

The Mayor seeks to reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect in London and encourages the design of places and spaces to avoid overheating and excessive heat generation, and to reduce overheating due to the impacts of climate change and the urban heat island effect on an area wide basis.

At the level of development proposals it is expected that developers implement a range of passive measures that will reduce the heat gain of buildings during the summer month and allow for adequate ventilation without thinned to resort to mechanical air conditioning.



Major development proposals should reduce potential overheating and reliance on air conditioning systems and demonstrate this in accordance with the following cooling hierarchy:

  1. minimise internal heat generation through energy efficient design
  2. reduce the amount of heat entering a building in summer through
  3. orientation, shading, albedo, fenestration, insulation and green roofs and walls
  4. manage the heat within the building through exposed internal thermal mass and high ceilings
  5. passive ventilation
  6. mechanical ventilation
  7. active cooling systems (ensuring they are the lowest carbon options).

Major development proposals should demonstrate how the design, materials, construction and operation of the development would minimise overheating and also meet its cooling needs. new development in London should also be designed to avoid the need for energy intensive air conditioning systems as much as possible. further details and guidance regarding overheating and cooling are outlined in the London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Policy 5.10 Urban Greening

Policy 5.10 is focussed on reducing the heat-island effect by providing larger areas of green features that both provide shade and absorb more solar energy thereby providing a cooling effect in the wider neighbourhood. At a strategic level the the policy states the following:

The Mayor will promote and support urban greening, such as new planting in the public realm (including streets, squares and plazas) and multifunctional green infrastructure, to contribute to the adaptation to, and reduction of, the effects of climate change.

The Mayor seeks to increase the amount of surface area greened in the Central Activities Zone by at least five per cent by 2030, and a further five per cent by 20501.

At the level of development proposals the policy requires developers to include green infrastructure within their plans.

Development proposals should integrate green infrastructure from
the beginning of the design process to contribute to urban greening, including the public realm. Elements that can contribute to this include tree planting, green roofs and walls, and soft landscaping. Major development proposals within the Central Activities Zone should demonstrate how green infrastructure has been incorporated.

Policy 5.11 Green Roofs and Development Site Environs

Policy 5.11 extents the aims of policy 5.10 and development proposals are required to consider green roofs within their proposals.

Major development proposals should be designed to include roof, wall and site planting, especially green roofs and walls where feasible, to deliver as many of the following objectives as possible:

  1. adaptation to climate change (ie aiding cooling)
  2. sustainable urban drainage
  3. mitigation of climate change (ie aiding energy efficiency)
  4. enhancement of biodiversity
  5. accessible roof space
  6. improvements to appearance and resilience of the building g growing food.

Policy 5.12 Flood Risk Management

Policy 5.12 implements the National Planning Policy Framework requirements regarding flood risk management.

At a strategic level:

The Mayor will work with all relevant agencies including the Environment Agency to address current and future flood issues and minimise risks in a sustainable and cost effective way.

and for individual development proposals.

Development proposals must comply with the flood risk assessment and management requirements set out in the nPPf and the associated technical Guidance on flood risk1 over the lifetime of the development and have regard to measures proposed in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100 – see paragraph 5.55) and Catchment flood Management Plans.
Developments which are required to pass the Exceptions Test set out in the nPPf and the Technical Guidance will need to address flood resilient design and emergency planning by demonstrating that:

  1. the development will remain safe and operational under flood conditions
  2. a strategy of either safe evacuation and/or safely remaining in the building is followed under flood conditions
  3. key services including electricity, water etc will continue to be provided under flood conditions
  4. buildings are designed for quick recovery following a flood.

Development adjacent to flood defences will be required to protect the integrity of existing flood defences and wherever possible should aim to be set back from the banks of watercourses and those defences to allow their management, maintenance and upgrading to be undertaken in a sustainable and cost effective way.

Policy 5.13 Sustainable drainage

Development should utilise sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) unless there are practical reasons for not doing so, and should aim to achieve greenfield run-off rates and ensure that surface water run-off is managed as close to its source as possible in line with the following drainage hierarchy:

  1. store rainwater for later use
  2. use infiltration techniques, such as porous surfaces in non-clay areas
  3. attenuate rainwater in ponds or open water features for gradual release
  4. attenuate rainwater by storing in tanks or sealed water features for
    gradual release
  5. discharge rainwater direct to a watercourse
  6. discharge rainwater to a surface water sewer/drain
  7. discharge rainwater to the combined sewer.

Drainage should be designed and implemented in ways that deliver other policy objectives of this Plan, including water use efficiency and quality, biodiversity, amenity and recreation.

Policy 5.15 Water Use and Supplies

At a strategic level the London Plan’s aims with regards to water use and supply are twofold: it aims to reduce the demand for water and it aims to ensure that the water distribution network is efficient and minimises later leakage.

The Mayor will work in partnership with appropriate agencies within London and adjoining regional and local planning authorities to protect and conserve water supplies and resources in order to secure London’s needs in a sustainable manner by:

  1. minimising use of mains water
  2. reaching cost-effective minimum leakage levels
  3. in conjunction with demand side measures, promoting the provision of additional sustainable water resources in a timely and efficient manner, reducing the water supply deficit and achieving security of supply in London
  4. minimising the amount of energy consumed in water supply
  5. promoting the use of rainwater harvesting and using dual potable and grey water recycling systems, where they are energy and cost- effective
  6. maintaining and upgrading water supply infrastructure
  7. ensuring the water supplied will not give rise to likely significant adverse effects to the environment particularly designated sites of European importance for nature conservation.

Development proposals are required to implement the following provisions.

Development should minimise the use of mains water by:

  1. incorporating water saving measures and equipment
  2. designing residential development so that mains water consumption would meet a target of 105 litres or less per head per day

New development for sustainable water supply infrastructure, which has been selected within water companies’ Water Resource Management
Plans, will be supported