Canopy cover query - Land Off Ikea Way Ikea Way Exeter Devon

Case reference: 254286278

Date submitted: 10/07/2020
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Request: In ref to planning: 19/1647

19/1647/FUL | Construction of 200 dwellings, means of access, public open space and associated infrastructure (Amended Scheme). | Land Off Ikea Way Ikea Way Exeter Devon

Can you please let me know the following:

1) % of canopy cover as it currently is (before any works)
2) Expected % canopy cover after works completed

Explanation of how Exeter City Council want to achieve being carbon neutral but no large scale planning proposals are being fitted with solar panels. This applies to student accomdation as well as general residential accomodation.

I understand that the 'Passive' housing design is energy effective and reduces the need for energy to keep the interior warm. It does not however, negate the need for energy needed to heat water or general electricity for day to day living.

If Exeter is to remain a green city and City and become carbon neutral we need to ensure all current and future proposals aim to plant sufficent trees to meet the 30% or more canopy cover as well as solar panels.

Thank you for your time andI look forward to your response.

Terrence Pickles of Exeter Trees UK.​

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Response:
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Information required:

In ref to planning: 19/1647

19/1647/FUL | Construction of 200 dwellings, means of access, public open space and associated infrastructure (Amended Scheme). | Land Off Ikea Way Ikea Way Exeter Devon

Can you please let me know the following:

1) % of canopy cover as it currently is (before any works)  Trees data is not collected in this format (% cover) and therefore not held in a recorded format. 

2) Expected % canopy cover after works completed  Trees data is not collected in this format (% cover) and therefore not held in a recorded format. 

Explanation of how Exeter City Council want to achieve being carbon neutral but no large scale planning proposals are being fitted with solar panels. This applies to student accomdation as well as general residential accomodation.

 

In 2012 Exeter City Council adopted the Core Strategy policy CP15 which from 2016 would have required all dwellings to be achieve equivalent to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5/Carbon Neutral for regulated energy systems. However, the Governments view is that the planning system should not set local standards in advance of national standards and that the Building Regulations are the appropriate mechanism to set such standards.  From 2015 we have been prevented from requiring energy performance standards greater than the Code For Sustainable Homes Level 4 which we continue to do.  The developer can choose to use solar panels or achieve that standard in other ways.

I understand that the 'Passive' housing design is energy effective and reduces the need for energy to keep the interior warm. It does not however, negate the need for energy needed to heat water or general electricity for day to day living.

If Exeter is to remain a green city and City and become carbon neutral we need to ensure all current and future proposals aim to plant sufficent trees to meet the 30% or more canopy cover as well as solar panels.

Thank you for your time andI look forward to your response.

Terrence Pickles of Exeter Trees UK.