FAQs: Environment and Utility

OPDC aims to protect and improve the area's designated local Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC's), the connections between them and such sites outside the OPDC area. Building and layout design will be expected to support nature by incorporating greenery and nature within roofs and walls and by providing street trees.

Development will be required to take account of the proximity of SINC's, and the habits and species in relevant Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs, which looks at the number and variety of species in an environment). Major developments will be required to submit ecological assessments.

OPDC will have particular regard to the protection and enhancement of ecology and biodiversity in Wormwood Scrubs, and the Grand Union Canal.

Growing the area's network of green spaces and elements of nature is an integral part of OPDC's Local Plan. Development will be required to protect and create more green and water spaces for multiple uses connected by green routes and integrated with building roofs and walls. The regeneration of Old Oak, in particular, provides OPDC with the opportunity to protect and improve the environment around the Grand Union Canal and Wormwood Scrubs.

Policies aim to ensure that development minimises the need for natural resources (e.g. capturing and using rainwater, area wide networks for energy, heat and cooling, and for waste disposal and re-cycling).

Transport policies, in combination with the policies to limit air pollution will encourage the use of electric vehicles, walking and cycling, and incentivise and encourage the use of the least polluting vehicles.

OPDC also has a Land Decontamination Strategy supporting the Local Plan, which if implemented will mean that development will clean-up contaminated land and protect the quality of water in the environment.

The Mayor's objective is that London becomes a world leader in improving the environment. OPDC is in a position to work with developers and others to push the boundaries in best practice in sustainable development. The draft Local Plan supports an integrated and holistic approach to the environment and the planning of utilities.

Completed and future supporting studies for the Local Plan have been, and will be done, to make sure that aspirational, but realistic environmental performance targets are set, against which development will be assessed, and that the area's needs are met in a co-ordinated way (e.g. water, energy, waste, flood resilience, and for green and open space).

Smart Technology for Old Oak and Park Royal relates to the use of new processes, systems, technologies and general innovation to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for local people, the area and its neighbours. Smart Technology will be used and integrated in to the development where it addresses challenges and delivers the above benefits.

Using data securely is a critical requirement, while balancing the aspiration for providing an open data environment.

OPDC have been working closely with industry experts and government bodies to develop a Smart Strategy. An interim Smart Strategy report was produced for the Regulation 18 version draft Local Plan which will be further developed for the Regulation 19 version draft Local Plan. This will aim to ensure that development is adaptable and future proofed with regard to new technology, systems, innovation and environmental requirements.

OPDC has developed an Integrated Water Management Strategy which sets out a series of options for how OPDC could potentially achieve greenfield run off rates that are equal to if the area was undeveloped and water neutrality (which does not place additional strain on water infrastructure).

As part of this strategy there will be a need for permeable materials in the public realm to reduce this. This approach is becoming much more commonplace in the UK, particularly given the rise in floods in recent years, to prevent any issues of local flooding or high water run-off.

As part of planning conditions and Section 106 agreements, OPDC will put in place controls and limits to minimise noise levels. The HS2 proposals are governed by what is included in the HS2 Bill and they are proposing to develop their own code of construction practice, which will commit them to not exceeding certain noise levels.

OPDC have adopted policies in the draft local plan that will require developers to achieve the mayor’s zero carbon development targets. To achieve this development will have to be: energy efficient and seek to source energy from low carbon sources, including from renewable energy generation; for example solar panel. In addition, OPDC will work with developers to provide local low carbon energy centres. These are centres where heating, cooling and power are generated using low carbon heat sources like heat from the canal, aquifers, waste materials and distributed to buildings through a local heat network.

Where developers cannot achieve the Mayor’s zero carbon development targets they will be required to make a contribution into a low carbon energy fund which will be used to invest in low carbon technologies within the host boroughs in order to off-set carbon emissions.

Developers will also be asked to ensure that all development is metered and monitored so that actual energy use can be compared with the predicted energy use. The data generated can help inform strategies to reduce energy use including through engagement and awareness raising with tenants.

London is a surprisingly dry city and London’s population is very thirsty. Since the 1990s according to the Environment Agency per capita water consumption in London has grown from around 100 litres per person per day to 165 litres. At the same time the population has grown rapidly. Much of the water infrastructure is old and leaky having been originally installed in the Victorian era. As a result water supply is severely constrained and investment in new infrastructure is required. The Mayor and OPDC are promoting the use of water efficient appliances and toilets to help reduce consumption. At the same time where feasible OPDC will promote the harvesting of rain water on development as well as water recycling from sinks and baths for reuse in irrigation, toilet flushing and other non-potable uses, especially in non-residential development.

Waste is one of the biggest problems facing London and Londoners. London produces 3,822,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year. 50% of this is sent to landfill. The percentage of waste recycled in tall and medium rise buildings is much lower than for houses and low rise development. As OPDC will be predominantly medium and high rise development it will be important to design apartments and waste management infrastructure to support high levels of recycling.

OPDC will work with developers to make sure that all development is carefully designed to support waste separation in apartments and disposal in central waste repositories so that the waste can be easily ad readily recycled.

Further OPDC and development partners will work with residents to provide support and training designed to increase recycling rates.

1. OPDC have set out a comprehensive set of strategies in the new local plan to promote the use of green and sustainable materials. OPDC is promoting the following materials:
   1. Materials that are certified as being green. Many materials particularly wood but also stone and other natural materials can be extracted carefully to protect the environment. In the case of wood, new trees, bamboos and other materials should be replanted after a crop is harvested in order to protect the forest and soils and ensure that the ecosystem can survive. Wood that is harvested using sustainable practices is usually certified by an independent body called the Forest Stewardship Council which assures that the forest is managed in perpetuity. OPDC will encourage the use of materials that are independently certified by a recognised body and approved body.
   2. Use of recycled and secondary building materials. A lot of work has been done by the industry to produce materials from recycled sources that can replace the use of virgin materials. The stone and cement in concrete, asphalt in black top, and other products can easily be replaced. Metal is often recycled. OPDC will encourage developers to work with suppliers to identify and use secondary or recycled materials in their products.
   3. Non-toxic materials to support healthy living. Paint, carpets, glues and additives used in wood type products and other materials can often emit gases that can be bad for health particularly for people with asthma and other related diseases. OPDC will work with developers to look at the impact of development on health and wellbeing and to do everything possible to ensure that their developments are as healthy as possible

In light of the recent tragedy at Latimer Road, there are major concerns about the appropriateness of buildings regulations. However, whilst investigation is underway, no clear conclusions on the cause of the spread of the fire or the suitability of materials used can be drawn. As the planning authority for the Old Oak Park Royal area, OPDC determines planning applications in accordance with local and national planning policy. Responsibility to comply with building regulations lies with the person carrying out the building work and the owner of the building (if they are not the same person). If an investigation into the incident results in amendments to building control regulations, those carrying out building work in the OPDC area will be responsible for ensuring compliance and obtaining the necessary approvals from either a Local Authority Building Control service or an Approved Inspector.

1. Green space including parks and public areas, playing fields, roof gardens and balconies are essential to health and wellbeing. Growing problems like obesity, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other related diseases are impacted by people not getting enough exercise. Government advise that people should get a minimum of 1.5 hours a week of aerobic exercise. Evidence from around the UK demonstrates that people who have access to green space within 400metres of their homes are more likely to achieve the government’s recommendations for exercise.
2. OPDC will work with developers to ensure that everyone living within the OPDC have good access to local parks (greenspace of more than 2 hectares), pocket parks, green and safe streets and cycle routes. In addition, the development as a whole will deliver in excess of 10m2 of green space per child.
3. The connections to Wormwood Scrubs which is the biggest municipal open land in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and includes playing fields as well as local sports centres will be enhanced through development of safe routes and new green bridges to the scrubs from the OPDC area.