National Initiatives

The Environment Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading on 30 January 2020. (This is now subject to delay due to COVID-19.) The Bill seeks to address the environmental and climate crisis we are facing, and it utilises the opportunity for reform a new domestic framework for environmental governance. The Environmental Bill 2019-20 focuses on key environmental issues such as improving the natural environment, reporting on: Environmental protection, waste and resource efficiency, air quality, conservation covenants, water and regulation of chemicals.

For more information, please click here: Environment Bill

The government hosted a public consultation from 1 October 2019 to 7 February 2020 on proposed changes to the Building Regulations. The new consultation sets out plans for the Future Homes Standards, which includes proposed options to increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes from 2020. The Future Homes Standards will need to require new homes to be built with low carbon heating measures, air tightness, ventilation, and performance levels. The Future Homes Standard document is the first stage of a two-part consultation of the proposed changes to the Building Regulations.

For more information on Future Homes Standards please visit: The Future Homes Standard

Sustainability West Midlands, in collaboration with the Environmental Agency has produced a plan which sets out the Climate Change adaptation actions, that should be considered for implementation by decision makers in the West Midlands. Considering the severity of effects seen due to Climate Change, it is intended that the plan will provide a framework for decision makers, senior leaders, and funders to help invest and adapt solutions to ensure Climate Change is at the heart of all activities.

The plan contains 76 actions that should be considered to help ensure we are adapted to the risks and take advantage of opportunities. The actions are split into Governance, reporting and monitoring (14), Natural environment (16), Infrastructure (12), Health, communities, and the built environment (21) and business and industry (13). The Adaptation plan will be updated annually to ensure actions are kept relevant and a monitoring process to ensure actions are being delivered with success measures identified.

South Staffordshire Council will ensure adaptation measures will be integrated into our Climate Change action/strategy.