NEWS: Have your say on sustainable building guidance
Developers will be required to show how new buildings cut carbon, improve energy efficiency and protect residents from extreme weather under proposed new planning guidance.
The draft Sustainable Building and Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out how new development across Malvern Hills District and Wychavon should contribute to tackling climate change. Residents and developers can have their say on the document as part of a five-week public consultation which runs until 11.59pm on 30 April.
The SPD provides detailed guidance that builds on policies in the recently adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan Review. Developers will be expected to cut energy use by installing measures such as solar panels and heat pumps in new homes. Sustainable drainage systems and water-saving measures will also be a must.
Buildings will need to be designed to be sustainable throughout their lifetimes, not just when they are built. This means using durable materials and flexible design so they can be adapted or reused for other purposes over time. Developers will also be expected to use responsibly sourced materials and sustainable construction methods to reduce environmental impact and protect wildlife.
As climate change is already happening and extreme weather events are increasing, new buildings will also need to include adaptation measures to protect people from heatwaves and flooding. This includes positioning buildings and windows to reduce overheating, using shading such as overhangs, allowing natural airflow and adding tree planting and green spaces.
Building development and ongoing usage is the second-highest carbon-emitting sector at 76 MtCO2e, according to the UK Climate Change Committee. Tackling emissions from development will support both councils’ carbon-cutting ambitions.
Cllr David Harrison, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Flooding on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Given the scale of development we are expected to see over the coming decades, it’s right that the sector plays its part in cutting emissions and reducing its impact on our environment. This guidance will help developers do that and contribute to the ambitions in our Destination Zero plan. It should also help residents with lower energy bills.”
Cllr Emma Kearsey, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Urban Design, added: “This guidance is a great example of how we continue to turn our commitment to cutting carbon emissions in our Intelligently Green plan into real action. By setting clear expectations for developers, we can deliver development that is better for residents, better for our planet and fit for the future.”
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/consultations or www.malvernhills.gov.uk/consultations to read the document and fill in the online survey.
Published 30 March 2026.