Accelerating the delivery of net zero carbon buildings through planning. Topic resource part 1: operational carbon emissions. Planning for the climate crisis: a guide for local authorities

Town and Country Planning Association, 2025
Accelerating the delivery of net zero carbon buildings through planning. Topic resource part 1: operational carbon emissions. Planning for the climate crisis: a guide for local authorities Download document

Document Status

Current

Supplement

Sustainability, Environment, Development & Planning

Abstract

Comprises guidance on how the planning system can assist in dealing with climate change, focusing on accelerating the delivery of net zero carbon buildings and operational carbon emissions. Covers: key principles, policy context, good practice for plan making, evidence to support policy on net zero carbon buildings, decision making and horizon scanning. Also includes an appendix containing legal advice on setting energy efficiency policies for new homes.

History

Supersedes: 4th edition (TCPA/RTPI, 2023). Last updated: December 2025. Document type: guide. First published: May 2018. Relationships: one of 18 documents making up the 5th edition of 'Planning for the climate crisis. A guide for local authorities'. Jointly published with: Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Subjects

  • Planning and development
  • Environmental planning/land
  • Climate change
  • Sustainable development
  • Other planning disciplines
  • Residential development

Publisher History

The Town and Country Planning Association campaigns for the reform of the UK’s planning system to make it more responsive to people’s needs and to promote sustainable development.

Information

NBS

NBS has produced specification systems and information products for construction industry professionals for more than 40 years. The National Building Specification is the recognised UK national standard and is used by over 5,000 organisations. NBS is part of RIBA Enterprises Ltd.

Accuris

We connect trusted knowledge to customers' workflows – mitigating risk, increasing efficiency and accelerating innovation For more than 60 years, leading R&D and engineering-intensive organizations have relied on us to achieve on-time, on-budget delivery of complex projects and new products. We deliver an unparalleled combination of technical content and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to surface answers from the vast universe of technical knowledge, both inside and outside the organization. In a single interface, we connect the dots between information scattered across many different sources, allowing technical professionals to make better, more informed decisions faster.