The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section sets out Objective 2, on climate change. It supports the move to a net zero carbon Buckinghamshire by 2050, directing growth to the most sustainable locations and designing development to cope with flooding and climate extremes. Transport causes 51% of the county's emissions. Areas at higher flood risk include parts of South Bucks, the Thames near Wycombe, east of Aylesbury and around Buckingham. Development is steered first to sites with the lowest flood risk.
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Planning for Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change
Local Plan Objective 2 Aim: To ensure the delivery of sustainable development, mitigating climate change and adapting to the impacts on Buckinghamshire’s environment.
a) Support the transition to a net zero carbon Buckinghamshire by 2050.
b) Direct growth to the most sustainable locations in terms of transport connections and services.
c) Design new development to be resilient to climate extremes and manage the risk of flooding.
d) Increase the supply of renewable/low-carbon energy and provide supporting infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen fuelling.
e) Meet existing standards of insulation, water, and energy efficiency in new and refurbished buildings.
f) Create locally liveable neighbourhoods in new development and regenerated areas.
g) Provide attractive and viable travel choices in addition to the private car, for walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.
h) Ensure development is designed to support efficient and sustainable waste and recycling systems, including the provision of appropriate space, layout and access for storage, collection and management.
4.9 The Local Plan for Buckinghamshire helps deliver the Bucks Climate Challenge to ensure that Buckinghamshire achieves net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Data shows that 51% of emissions in Buckinghamshire are transport related. The Local Transport Plan for Buckinghamshire sets out our priorities for reducing our transport carbon emissions through sustainable travel choices, ultra-low or zero emission vehicles, and digital connectivity to reduce the need to travel. The Local Plan also supports the delivery Local Nature Recovery Strategy, plus our Green Infrastructure Strategy for strengthen our networks of parks, lakes, rivers and canals.
4.10 Evidence has improved our understanding of current and future flooding impacts across Buckinghamshire. Climate change is expected to greatly increase local flood risks in areas such as the south-western and south-eastern edges of South Bucks, the environs of the River Thames in the Wycombe area, areas east of Aylesbury and the Great Ouse around Buckingham. High Wycombe and Chesham are identified nationally as areas of significant surface water flood risk. The areas with properties at highest risk from catchment-wide flooding from a cumulative level of growth are at the far northwest of Buckinghamshire (edges of Milton Keynes) and at Aylesbury and High Wycombe Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Future development prioritises sites with the lowest flood risk before considering areas which will need to include flood mitigation measures.