TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance of local level planning policies for reducing greenhouse gases
T2 - insight from new buildings in Scotland
AU - Onyango, Vincent
AU - Burford, Neil
N1 - The data used in this paper were collected from a study funded by the Scottish government, commissioned though ClimateXChange, to assess the effectiveness of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction policies in Local Development Plans (LDPs) in promoting the uptake of low and zero-carbon generating technology (LZCGT).
PY - 2020/6/9
Y1 - 2020/6/9
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess performance of local level planning policies that required new buildings to avoid a specified and rising proportion of projected greenhouse gases (GHGs) from their use; it is calculated based on the approved design and plans for the specific development and through the installation and operation of low and zero-carbon generating technologies (LZCGTs). Design/methodology/approach: Data were extracted from a random sample of 911 new builds from 403 planning applications and related documents, across five Scottish local planning authorities (LPAs) who adopted GHG reduction policies. The data included GHG reduction, LZCGT installation and performance, use of plan designs to meet GHG reductions and exemptions from the GHG policies. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software, complimented by qualitative responses from questionnaires, helped to explain observed performance. Findings: The policies performed poorly, at the level of delivering low-hanging fruits, with significant room for improvement. Design-led opportunities in the GHG policies were not actively pursued; most LZCGT installation was exempted from GHG policies and the policies were poor in targeting the relationship between building unit size, GHG emission and reductions. Research limitations/implications: The source documents, where the data came from, had varying quality and completeness and some LPAs are over-represented in the data. The study applied limited criteria to evaluate policy performance. Practical implications: Areas for policymakers to further focus on when exploring how to enhance role and performance of LZCGT are highlighted, including practical suggestions. Originality/value: One of the few studies assessing policy performance and distilling lessons, from early adopters of GHG policies at local level planning, offer performance benchmarks and raise points of concern for policymakers.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess performance of local level planning policies that required new buildings to avoid a specified and rising proportion of projected greenhouse gases (GHGs) from their use; it is calculated based on the approved design and plans for the specific development and through the installation and operation of low and zero-carbon generating technologies (LZCGTs). Design/methodology/approach: Data were extracted from a random sample of 911 new builds from 403 planning applications and related documents, across five Scottish local planning authorities (LPAs) who adopted GHG reduction policies. The data included GHG reduction, LZCGT installation and performance, use of plan designs to meet GHG reductions and exemptions from the GHG policies. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software, complimented by qualitative responses from questionnaires, helped to explain observed performance. Findings: The policies performed poorly, at the level of delivering low-hanging fruits, with significant room for improvement. Design-led opportunities in the GHG policies were not actively pursued; most LZCGT installation was exempted from GHG policies and the policies were poor in targeting the relationship between building unit size, GHG emission and reductions. Research limitations/implications: The source documents, where the data came from, had varying quality and completeness and some LPAs are over-represented in the data. The study applied limited criteria to evaluate policy performance. Practical implications: Areas for policymakers to further focus on when exploring how to enhance role and performance of LZCGT are highlighted, including practical suggestions. Originality/value: One of the few studies assessing policy performance and distilling lessons, from early adopters of GHG policies at local level planning, offer performance benchmarks and raise points of concern for policymakers.
KW - Greenhouse gas emissions
KW - Local planning
KW - New builds
KW - Policy evaluation
KW - Policy performance
KW - Scotland
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086173598&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/MEQ-10-2019-0215
DO - 10.1108/MEQ-10-2019-0215
M3 - Article
SN - 1477-7835
VL - 31
SP - 985
EP - 1002
JO - Management of Environmental Quality: an International Journal
JF - Management of Environmental Quality: an International Journal
IS - 4
ER -
