Bridging the Net-Zero Policy Gap – Developing Local Plans that Enable Net-Zero Carbon Homes

Join leading local authorities and sustainability consultancy Bioregional to discover how pioneering councils are developing and adopting ambitious net-zero planning policies that go above and beyond national standards.

With the UK Government’s proposed Future Homes Standard set to fall short of what is needed to deliver truly net-zero homes, this webinar will hear how innovative new approaches in spatial carbon modelling and local plan-making provide a blueprint for other local authorities to follow, enabling them to accommodate new growth in the least carbon intensive way possible while meeting their climate emergency commitments.

Agenda:

• Welcome and Introduction - Lewis Knight
• Scene setting – the sustainability challenge and policy environment facing local planning authorities - Lewis Knight
• Case study – how Central Lincolnshire adopted a pioneering net zero local plan - Philip Hylton
• Net zero carbon spatial planning – how local authorities can engage with Innovate UK funded project - Jo Mortensen
• Q&A - Lewis Knight

Hear from:

Phil Hylton, Local Plans Manager at the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Team

Phil started his planning career working in a private sector consultancy before moving to Local Government in 2008. He has spent the past 15 years honing his planning policy skills whilst also undertaking some development management work and assisting communities in producing neighbourhood plans at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Peterborough City Council, and now as the Central Lincolnshire Local Plans Manager. As the Local Plans Manager in Central Lincolnshire, Phil has helped deliver the vision of the Local Planning Authority to deliver a pioneering Local Plan that will help to deliver a net zero carbon Central Lincolnshire.

Lewis Knight, Head of Sustainable Places, Bioregional

Lewis leads Bioregional’s Sustainable Places team, which provides industry-leading expertise on how to create sustainable homes and communities through the masterplaning, design, construction, and operation of new developments. After joining Bioregional in 2013 Lewis worked on the UK’s first eco-town development, NW Bicester, helping to deliver its sustainability aspirations using the One Planet Living Framework. He has helped to deliver a range of environmental projects across the wider town of Bicester and is currently a long-standing director of Bicester Green, a thriving reuse and sustainability centre. Lewis has helped to lead the delivery of One Planet Oxfordshire, a county-wide vision for a truly sustainable future and Oxfordshire Greentech, a business network for the low carbon future.

Jo Mortensen, Principal Consultant, Bioregional

As the Principal Consultant in Bioregional’s Sustainable Places team, Jo supports local authorities and developers to bring to life transformative projects and policies that directly address the pressing climate and eco logical crisis. Jo has over 14 years of invaluable experience in the UK public sector. Before joining Bioregional, she developed and led the sustainability and climate action agenda for Ealing Council in West London. She honed her expertise in areas such as active travel, domestic and commercial retrofit, water efficiency, and net-zero strategy. Jo created a small but impactful team and made a tangible difference for residents and leadership there.