The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy addresses the tension between conserving heritage assets and tackling climate change. Proposals to improve the environmental performance of historic buildings will be supported where a well informed, sensitive design approach avoids compromising the asset's significance, and schemes that undo past inappropriate alterations will be viewed favourably. Applicants must understand how the building performs and its historic value, and assess reasonable alternatives that could avoid harm. Where conflict is unavoidable, the public benefit of cutting carbon emissions will be weighed against harm to the asset.
OpenConsult / South Warwickshire Plan Explorer
Climate & energy
Net zero, carbon reduction, renewable energy, solar farms, energy efficiency and sustainable construction.
48 sections of the plan, in document order.
The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section explains the policy balancing heritage conservation with climate action. Applicants must submit evidence showing sensitive design, following Historic England's Whole Building Approach, which is based on understanding the building and its significance, choosing proportionate interventions, and avoiding maladaptation, meaning changes that stop a building performing properly. The level of detail should match the asset's importance. Where harm would result, applicants must show what alternatives were considered, and further technical guidance from the councils is planned.
The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This policy introduces the protection of South Warwickshire's waterways. It describes them as a significant green and blue infrastructure resource with a key role in place-making, recreation and supporting biodiversity. Waterways are also key heritage assets, treasured by the community and by visitors. To retain their intrinsic value, the policy states they must be protected.
The human version (we wrote this, not the council)This section lists the monitoring indicators the councils will use to check whether each plan policy is working. For every policy, from the development strategy through infrastructure, economy, housing, climate and environment chapters, it names the measures to be tracked, such as homes completed, affordable housing delivered, floorspace built, flood risk permissions and biodiversity net gain units. Some policies have no specific indicators. The results feed into ongoing monitoring of the plan.