Sustainability is central to national planning policy. The Planning and Climate Change Supplement to Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 1 (December 2007) states that planning is fundamentally important in delivering sustainable development in a changing global context.
The new Supplement to PPS 1 makes it clear that the Government wants the planning regime to play a pivotal role in meeting the challenge of climate change. For the first time, local planning authorities will have to ensure that all new development makes significant cuts in carbon emissions. Planning will also shape sustainable communities so that they are resilient to, and appropriate for, forthcoming climate change.
Furthermore, in PPS 3: Housing (November 2006) the Government is seeking: to achieve a wide choice of high quality homes, both affordable and market housing, to address the requirements of the community; to widen opportunities for home ownership and ensure high quality housing for those who cannot afford to buy their own home; to improve affordability across the housing market; to increase the supply of housing and to create sustainable, inclusive, mixed communities.
Quality of Life
We support these planning principles because we recognise the fundamental impact that the development industry has on people's quality of life. Our master planning therefore seeks to place people and the environment at its very heart. At Countryside Properties we recognise that sensitive masterplanning and high quality design will provide new sustainable communities which are ‘future proofed’ for climate change for generations to come.
- Our masterplans promote character in townscape and landscape by responding to and reinforcing locally distinctive patterns of development, landscape and culture.
- Climate change considerations are integrated into our spatial planning, and mitigation and adaptation measures are considered together, to ensure we promote adaptability through development that can respond to changing conditions.
- We ensure our masterplans create a highly attractive and safe public realm and clearly define private areas.
- Landmarks help people find their way around, and a network of footpaths and cycleways connect local facilities.
- Diversity and choice is promoted through a mix of harmonious building typologies and tenures, as well as uses, that work together to create viable places that respond to changing needs.
Mixed-use Schemes
In many of our mixed-use schemes we are integrating mixed-tenure housing with retail, leisure, recreational and office uses to create vibrant communities. Countryside Properties creates attractive and functional living environments designed to meet current and envisaged future lifestyles. Indeed, we continue to differentiate ourselves by being able to deliver all the ingredients required in developing sustainable communities.
Initiatives and Memberships
The following initiatives and memberships have informed and will continuously influence our commitment to sustainable development:
- Our Chairman is a member of the Kent Thameside Delivery Board (KTBD) and the Medway Renaissance Partnership. Both organisations unite public and private sector interests to bring forward sustainable regeneration projects in Thames Gateway Kent.
- Our Chairman is also a member of the Government’s Thames Gateway Parklands High Level Strategy Group.
- Our Chairman is also a member of the Manchester Salford Pathfinder Board. This is one of nine housing market renewal partnerships nationally that have developed comprehensive programmes of neighbourhood renewal in order to create sustainable communities and housing markets.
- Our Head of Sustainability is a member of the Sustainable Development Round Table (SDRT) for the East of England. The SDRT is a ‘champion body’ that works to promote sustainable development throughout the East of England.
- In addition, we attend the New Build Group of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes and Go East’s ‘Towards Zero Carbon Development Group’ – each is focussing on the delivery of the Government’s ‘Building a Greener Future: policy statement’ and other applicable policies.
- We are also members of Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway Strategy Group which is a strategic approach to the development of green infrastructure in Kent and the Thames Gateway in response to growth and urban regeneration.
- The Group was a key partner, and the only developer, in WWF-UK’s ‘One Million Sustainable Homes Task Force’ (OMSH). The Task Force comprised partners from across a wide range of sectors and was responsible for implementing strategies to help overcome the key barriers to the development of sustainable homes. We are now members of its successor NextGeneration.
- Our membership of the South East England Development Agency’s (SEEDA) Sustainability Checklist Steering Group has facilitated the creation of a sustainability model for the development industry. This checklist is being used as a framework for each of the seven other Regional Development Agencies including the East of England Development Agency and the North West Development Agency, both of which we have contributed to.
During the reporting period we planted more than 70,000 (2006: 132,000) new trees and shrubs to complement existing habitats and create new landscaped spaces on our developments.
New Hendon Village, Colindale