Why is climate change and environmental protection important for Southend-on-Sea?
Climate resilient development can significantly increase the adaptive capacity of our city, providing multiple co-benefits for health and wellbeing and ecosystems.
It also has benefits for the local economy and social inclusion, such as security of energy supply through increased energy diversity, reduced fuel cost and employment possibilities.
Creating new buildings that minimise carbon emissions and address the retrofit challenge (Policy DM9.1).
Decarbonising our transport network and providing more opportunities for active travel; reducing carbon emissions from waste and energy networks; delivering decentralised and low carbon energy where possible (Policy DM9.2).
Protecting the environment, including consideration of contaminated land, land stabilisation, air quality and management, surface and ground water quality, noise pollution and sensitive uses (Policy DM9.3).
Considering climate change projections from sea level rises and increased rainfall so that new development, particularly housing and other vulnerable uses is resilient for the long term. Development on the coast will need to consider future flood risk and coastal change to manage the structural integrity of coastal defences (Policy DM9.4).
Development should avoid the loss of minerals resources, including best and most versatile agricultural land (Policy DM9.5).