How can our planning system be more effective at dealing with issues such as climate change, air quality and biodiversity loss?

Here’s a free event you might be interested in!

How can our planning system be more effective at dealing with issues such as climate, air quality and biodiversity loss?

Oxfordshire’s environment is under enormous pressure from development. All the local councils are to develop a ‘Joint Spatial Plan’ – a spatial development strategy for the whole county. The intention is to provide a way to consider the future growth of the County in a ‘more coherent, coordinated, long term way’ than is possible through existing Plans. But so far the information about this proposed plan makes no reference to climate change, despite clear national goals for carbon emission reductions and the targets set by local councils. 

Oxfordshire Friends of the Earth and other groups are holding this workshop to bring together planners, environment and amenity groups and academics to discuss how action on these key environmental issues can be integrated into this new strategy and related documents including neighbourhood plans.

This event is free, but places are limited. Advance booking is required: 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/planning-as-if-the-climate-mattered-tickets-34821027631

Speakers include:

• Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Senior Planner, Friends of the Earth England, Wales & N. Ireland
• Helen Marshall, Need not Greed Oxfordshire
• Ian Green, Oxford Civic Society
• Elizabeth Wilson, Oxford Brookes University
• Dr Anne Miller, Oxford University (invited)
• Peter Headicar,  Transport Planning, Oxford Brookes University,
• Dan Scharf, Planning Consultant 

This event is for anyone interested in local planning issues, our environment and countryside and in how we can make these local planning processes effective. No planning expertise is required! There will be ample time for questions and discussion.