On paper, the pursuit of sustainable development remains a cornerstone of the English planning system. The publication of the Brundtland report in 1987 is considered to be the starting point of the global sustainability debate which defined sustainable development as ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
The promotion of sustainable development has been the statutory purpose of planning since the 2004 Planning Act. Presumption in favour of sustainable development was at the heart of the National Panning Policy Framework in 2012. The UK Sustainable Development Strategy aimed to provide further clarity and set out five guiding principles of sustainable development including; living within the planets environmental limits, ensuring a strong, healthy and just society, achieving a sustainable economy, promoting good governance and using sound science responsibly.
Manchester’s climate change plan aims to reduce carbon emissions in the city by 41% from 2005 levels by 2020 and embed low carbon thinking into future operations with a target of becoming one of the first carbon neutral cities in the world by 2050. In order to achieve this goal, as housing is one of the biggest issues for the city, developers are encouraged to explore innovative design solutions and future proof buildings from climate change. For more information please visit http://www.manchester.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/27159/state_of_the_city_report_2019_a_thriving_and_sustainable_city.pdf
