Comment

Representation ID: 19941

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Climate Action Ilkley

Number of people: 7

Our response is provided in the context of both BMDC and Ilkley Town Councils’ resolutions acknowledging an ongoing climate emergency. An emergency requires radical and transformative solutions. New housing and other developments provide an opportunity to help address these crises with imaginative and forward-thinking solutions; otherwise, they literally fan the flames of global heating and necessitate costly remedial action in the short-medium term which could otherwise have been avoided (e.g. through extra insulation and installing non-fossil fuel heating).

We know such housing is possible because these high standards have been achieved at a number of projects in the UK with council involvement, for example in Exeter and Norwich.

Our aim is not to provide support or otherwise of particular sites for housing or other infrastructure. We accept that new houses and other developments are needed, although we ask that the council first assesses opportunities to exploit existing properties, particularly those vacant for a long period. We also ask that full details of all brownfield sites in the district are made available including any reasons why developers are not using these first.