Sustainability & Environmental Consulting

Local authorities face the challenge of identifying effective low-carbon growth options while balancing various factors such as location, housing density, environmental planning policies, and the provision of local services to meet new demands. To address this, the Net-zero Spatial Planning Tool was developed to assist local councils in making informed decisions about sustainable growth and reducing carbon emissions associated with future population increases.

The tool utilizes national and local datasets, geographic information systems (GIS), and robust evidence to empower local councils to make data-driven decisions. It generates dynamic outputs, including graphs and maps, to effectively communicate findings to diverse audiences. Specifically, the Net-zero Spatial Planning Tool calculates the carbon impact of new developments, allowing councils to set their own policy targets and growth scenario factors, which include embodied carbon from construction, operational carbon, the number of properties, types of housing, location, growth rate, and transportation.

One of the key benefits of the tool is its ability to provide accurate and rapid carbon impact calculations for new developments. It delves into the specifics of carbon emissions from construction, operations, and transport, enabling local authorities to accommodate growth in the least carbon-intensive manner possible. The tool is adaptable to various settings, whether in urban or rural areas, analyzing how transport patterns shift based on distance and available options. This adaptability ensures that local councils can make informed decisions tailored to their unique geographical and infrastructural contexts.

Furthermore, the tool allows councils to explore various carbon reduction policies by integrating dynamic inputs from local and national sources. This feature enables them to mix and match strategies, such as energy efficiency measures, solar panel installations, heat pump adoption, and sustainable transport options, to identify the least carbon-intensive pathways for growth. Additionally, it incorporates the carbon impact of essential services, such as schools and healthcare facilities, while adjusting development size and density to meet the needs of new residents.

Overall, the Net-zero Spatial Planning Tool provides local authorities with the capability to make smarter, greener decisions by mapping the carbon footprint of new developments, ensuring alignment with net-zero goals, and supporting the creation of evidence-based local planning policies.