Date:
Residents and key stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute towards Woking’s vision for a sustainable borough with net zero carbon emissions that supports growth and clean development, whilst boosting resilience to the changing climate.
Climate change strategy
The current climate change strategy, known as Woking 2050 and adopted in 2015, sets out a vision guiding our collective efforts to create a sustainable borough by reducing our environmental impact.
To ensure that the strategy remains relevant, council officers have carefully reviewed and updated the document to reflect the latest good practice, government policies and targets.
The draft strategy suggests nine key themes each giving guidance on how the local authority, residents, businesses and other organisations can play their part to achieve our shared environmental goals.
Climate Change Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
The Climate Change SPD, adopted in 2013, sets out how future development should contribute toward reducing carbon emissions and making efficient use of local resources, such as water and energy. It provides detail on how policies within Woking’s Core Strategy apply to day-to-day planning decisions.
Since 2013 there have been significant changes to the planning system, particularly around sustainable construction and renewable and low carbon energy generation.
The revised SPD will bring together these changes, as well as the most recent building practices and promote the use of sustainable technologies, whilst encouraging developers to go beyond minimum national standards.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s (23 March 2023) Executive meeting where these consultations will be recommended to progress, Cllr Peter Graves, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Greener Woking, said: “Woking has long been committed to protecting the environment, with our first climate change strategy adopted in 2002.
“We have achieved a lot since then and much has been made possible through working together. To enable us to do more and reach our net-zero targets across the Council’s estate and the wider borough, it is critical that both documents are reviewed and consulted upon in parallel.
“By seeking the views of residents and key stakeholders we can provide a clear path that we can all follow and identify the actions we can take to tackle climate change.”
Consultation
Resident and stakeholder feedback will not only help shape and inform the final strategy but will also provide an opportunity for public engagement and further raise awareness of the need for us all to play our part in local climate action.
The two six-week consultations will run together and be hosted on the Woking Community Forum. The consultations will commence following May’s local election.
Read the Executive meeting papers
Watch the Executive meeting from 7pm, Thursday 23 March 2023