London scoping - ukcip

Final Report
213
policies also states that as built development is to be avoided on floodplains, there
may be scope for renewable energy developments such as wind turbines.
• Sustainable drainage (Policy BR7). The use of sustainable urban drainage systems
should be the norm unless there are practical reasons for not doing so.
• Rising groundwater (Policy BR8). In considering major planning applications in
areas where rising groundwater is an existing or potential problem, the Mayor will
and boroughs should, expect reasonable steps to be taken to abstract and use that
groundwater. The water may be used for cooling or watering purposes or may be
suitable for use within the development or by a water supply company. The
supporting text for the policy refers to the General Aquifer Research, Development
and Investigation Team (GARDIT) project that is examining ways of abstracting
and using groundwater again. A strategy has been put in place to ensure that
groundwater is maintained at levels which do not threaten the stability of, or
flooding to, vital infrastructure.
• Water supplies (Policy BR9). The Mayor will work in partnership with appropriate
agencies to protect and conserve water supplies in order to secure London’s long
term needs. The supporting text for this policy states that the pressure on water
supplies is likely to increase due to climate change. This could occur because of
changes to rainfall patterns and the availability of water resources at particular
times of the year. Elevated temperatures could also result in changing demand for
water for domestic and commercial uses.
• Water quality (Policy BR10). The Mayor will and boroughs should seek to protect
and improve water quality to ensure that the Blue Ribbon Network is healthy,
attractive and offers a valuable series of habitats. This policy is helpful in
supporting measures to improve water quality. Specific actions taken by the EA
and water companies as well as the impacts of climate change on water quality are
described in separate sections below.
• Water and sewerage infrastructure (Policy BR11). The Mayor expects developers
and local planning authorities to work together with water supply and sewerage
companies to enable the inspection, repair or replacement of water supply and
sewerage infrastructure, if required, during the construction of development. The
Mayor will work with Thames Water, the Environment Agency and other relevant
organisations to ensure that London’s drainage and sewerage infrastructure is
sustainable. See below for a discussion of the relevant policy framework for the
EA and water companies.
Overall the policies for the Blue Ribbon Network are helpful in relation to climate change and
should allow appropriate action to be taken including adaptation.
The draft Plan also refers to the present study, the work of the London Climate Change
Partnership and a forthcoming study on climate change adaptation stating that the policies of the
Mayor and other planning authorities should adapt to the finding of the study. This is
encouraging but much work remains to be done on the potential impacts and adaptation options
for specific developments. A number of actions should be considered in relation to the draft
London Plan and climate change: