SOUTH EAST PLAN

South East PlanESPACE - reminder

Aim

Incorporation of adaptation to climate change within spatial planning mechanisms at local, regional, and European levels

Output

• spatial planning policy guidance

• adoption by partners

• recommendations for integration of guidance

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Regional Assembly action

Development of regional spatial strategy incorporating policies and measures to adapt to climate change

Informed by:

• Water resource & flood risk management information and strategies

• Identification of adaptation measures – illustrated by case studies

• Understanding of Water Framework Directive

• Approaches in partner regions

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Progress

• Review of policies

• Collation of technical data

• Stakeholder engagement and awareness raising

• Intra-regional co-operation – especially with partners in Environment Agency and county councils

• Trans-national co-operation – especially with WSRL and VROM

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Stakeholder and public input into the Draft Plan

Wide range of sources:

• Over 1000 stakeholders provided feedback at a series of 18 ‘Spring Debate’ workshops in April/May 2004

• Three major independent public opinion polls by MORI in 2004-05, using statistically representative samples

• Current consultation includes stakeholder workshops and questionnaire to 3 million homes

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Outputs/Progress

Draft SE Plan consultation

24 January-15 April 2005

5,000 copies sent out

3.3 million leaflets (every household)

Stakeholder events

Opinion surveys - MORI

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Technical information & policy review:

• climate change impacts (with SE Climate Change Partnership)

• water resources (with Environment Agency and Water companies)

• Water quality (with Environment Agency and Water companies)

• Flood risk management (with Environment Agency)

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Themes and coverage

• Economy

• Housing

• Communications & Transport

• Sustainable Natural Resource Management

• Countryside & Landscape

• Built & Historic Environment

• Social & Cultural

• Sub-regional strategies

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Natural resource Management policies

Policy CC2 – Climate Change

• Theme applies to all policies in Plan

• Plan promotes mitigation & adaptation

• Review of policies to ensure compatibility

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Water – key policy themes

Policy NRM1

Sustainable water resources & river quality management

• Role of specific strategies & links to local planning

• Twin-track

• Need for and phasing of infrastructure & development …plus

• Water efficiency

• Flood storage & multiple benefit

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Water - key policy themes

Policy NRM2

Strategic Water Resources Development

• Need for new water resources – including reservoirs

• Identification & safeguarding of sites

• Criteria – need, impact, benefit

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Flood probability & risk

NRM3

Sustainable Flood Risk Management

• Avoid areas of highest probability

• Strategic flood risk assessments

• Keep options open

• Integration of specific strategies and local planning

• Sustainable drainage schemes

SOUTH EAST PLANCase studies and toolkitEnvironment Agency and Assembly March 2005

Toolkit for water adaptation through planning

• Focus on development-scale, not landscape-scale

• Aimed at planners and developers

• Principles – process, flexibility, integration, partnership

• Adaptation – water efficiency & flood risk reduction

• Parallels with Partners’ measures eg Guiding Models

• Tools – policy, development control, regulations/legal, “informatives”

• Role and limitations of planning system

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Case studies and toolkitEnvironment Agency and Assembly March 2005

Case studies

• Illustrating measures promoted in the Toolkit and reflecting SE Plan policies

• Practical adaptations

• Includes Water Assessment and Guiding Models (NL)

• Few very good examples in SE:- new concepts?- complex planning system- resistance/inertia/lack of urgency/costs- limited tools/legal requirement

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Trans-national cooperationand influence

Things learned/taken

• SE Plan policies draw on principles adopted in partner regions eg making space for water, water assessment

• Lack of legal requirement for water assessment, spatial claim, water test hinders delivery

• Potential to adapt UK system to reflect good practice

• Complex system and number of plans

• Need for stronger link between water management and spatial planning

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Trans-national cooperationand influence

Things to give/teach

• Adapting less-than-ideal systems

• Role of persuasion and informatives

• Joining-up of fragmented plans and strategies – the role of regional spatial planning in the UK

• Experience of consultation and consensus building in challenging political climate...

• Sustainability appraisal and strategic environmental assessment

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Timetable

• Consultation to 15 April

• Analysis of representations and sustainability appraisal, and amendment of policies – Summer 2005

• Assembly agreement of Plan in July 2005

• Submission to Government late 2005

• Further consultation and Examination

• Adoption 2007

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South East PlanGaps and Barriers

• Conflicting objectives & priorities – especially housing and economic growth, locational requirements and environmental impact – hinders true integration

• Lack of clarity over appropriate & effective measures

• Lack of obligation and legal requirements

• Plethora of sectoral plans

• Poor link between water management and planning

• Rigid top-down planning – hinders innovation

• Inertia and lack of urgency

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South East Plan Further input from partnership

• Review of draft Plan (Chapter D5) and comment

• Climate Change Implementation Plan –(in development by Assembly)

• Identification of possible approaches and tools, and relevance/adaptability to SE situation

• Implications of Water Framework Directive – relevance to ESPACE?

• Case studies – review and additions