Amy Powell, Principal Planner, Edgars
In this article we’ll be providing key information on the Salt Cross Garden Village, why it’s important to net zero carbon development and further implications you may need to consider.
Salt Cross Garden Village was a key allocation introduced in the West Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan which was adopted in 2018. As part of its promotion of Garden Village, central government contributed £250,000 in funding.
What is Salt Cross?
Salt Cross will be a holistically planned new garden village, with over 2,000 homes, and its own facilities including schools, community resources, and employment opportunities. The development will have a strong focus on the environment and will aim to tackle climate change challenges through the adoption of a zero-carbon community.
Salt Cross Area Action Plan
The Salt Cross Area Action Plan (AAP) was drafted by the Council to set the policies for the development which would accord with garden village principles and act as an exemplar development in the district. The AAP contained several policies for net zero development, including the requirement to demonstrate net zero operational carbon on-site through ultra-low energy fabric specification and fossil fuel-free buildings.
Response at examination
However, following the submission of the AAP to independent examination in 2022, the appointed examiners significantly reduced the scope of the net zero policies. This would have rendered them ineffective to deliver the net zero ambition of the development on the basis that the policies were contrary to a Written Ministerial Statement made in 2015.
Challenging the recommendations
In February 2024, Rights Community Action successfully challenged the Secretary of State’s recommendations for the net zero carbon building policies in the AAP in the High Court.
The ruling found that the government had wrongly applied the 2015 Written Ministerial Statement which sought to restrict the Council’s ability to set higher energy efficiency standards. This crucial decision would allow the AAP to continue to set ambitious building standards that would deliver measurable carbon reductions to align with the objectives of the garden village.
However, whilst this clarifies the position of net zero policies against the Written Ministerial Statement in 2015, it does not consider the alignment of the AAP’s policies against the newest Written Ministerial Statement in December 2023, and as such, we, alongside the industry, eagerly await further development of the AAP.
Industry experts have long campaigned that existing and planned building regulations would not meet the nation’s net zero target, and advocates for local authorities to set their own policies to ensure that development in their district lowers carbon emissions in line with national and local targets.
We are proud to support The Good Homes Alliance’s recent response to the Future Homes and Building Standards Consultation last month, which promotes higher standards for new buildings. As planners, we have an important role in securing sustainable development, and a central element to this is ensuring buildings are fit for a net zero carbon future.
A net zero carbon future will have cost implications. We urge those with current or future development projects in mind, to consider incorporating sustainable design principles and construction methods into development projects to avoid later costs of retrofitting. Delayed action will have significant impacts on the local environment and our wider climate goals in lowering carbon emissions.
Net zero carbon development is a more relevant consideration in every new project. We anticipate this will become more of a requirement. Get in touch with us on 01865 731700 or email enquiries@edgarslimited.co.uk if we can help to deliver a decarbonisation project, renewable energy proposal or policy formation. We are happy to demonstrate our expertise and learnings in this field and help you deliver a more sustainable future.
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