Manifesto suggestions
Ben Griffith, 9 December 2025.
After several years work with the Islington Council Net Zero Carbon programme much remains to be done. These suggestions for the manifestos in the 2026 council elections are designed to provide realistic ways around obstacles to faster progress towards environmental objectives. Discussion with candidates, further local input, and extension in manifestos are welcome.
Responses to the consultations on the Retrofit Handbook and the Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document
Robert Milne, 18 February 2025.
The long-awaited draft versions of the Retrofit Handbook and Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document result from much thoughtful work by varied contributors. However, they do not mention changes in policies or processes that would encourage sustainable development; in some respects they could even discourage it. They make policies rather clearer, but in doing so they add restrictions, and they still do not say what is required in Sustainable Design and Construction Statements. The responses include various ways of improving them, especially by making structured templates central to planning application processes, strengthening the distinctions between the documents, and adopting principles about planning applications which are immediately acceptable but not formally ‘permitted development’.
Islington Council has accepted the first two of these suggestions in the adopted versions of the Retrofit Handbook and Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document.
Requirements for householder planning applications under the Local Plan
Robert Milne, 15 February 2024.
Our comments on the draft scope for the Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document noted that for refurbishments and extensions of single dwellings the Local Plan was both too complicated (in requiring BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment 2014 ‘Excellent’ ratings) and too vague (in not saying what is required in Sustainable Design and Construction Statements). This report puts forward a consistent approach, in which BREEAM ratings are not required but Sustainable Design and Construction Statements are structured as questionnaires about those BREEAM criteria that are useful and relevant.
Islington Council has reacted by removing the requirement for BREEAM ratings for single dwellings (without providing a structure for Sustainable Design and Construction Statements until the adoption of the Retrofit Handbook and Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document).
Perspectives from large retailers for the freight plan
Robert Milne, 7 February 2024.
As an input to the freight plan and the walking, cycling and access plan of Islington Council we examined the stated achievements and aims of large retailers. This report summarises our findings and identifies sources of supporting evidence.
Initial thoughts on vehicles for the freight plan
Jeremy Drew, 31 January 2024.
Islington Council intends to prepare a freight plan and a walking, cycling and access plan. Preparation has been delayed by shortage of effort. To stimulate activity, the report has some initial thoughts on relevant recent results about freight transport.
Comments on the scoping document for the Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document
Robert Milne, 15 September 2023.
Islington Council has invited comments on its draft scope for the Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document. This set of comments provides views on where the emphases should be placed in the content and presentation of the document. It also discusses how planning applications can encourage householders to pay adequate attention to climate change without imposing unnecessary administrative burdens.
Emission reductions implied by the transport action plans
Robert Milne, 12 April 2023.
The plans of Islington Council for the Net Zero Carbon programme list many potential actions. However, they do not show how far the actions will move the Council towards its Net Zero Carbon objective. Our report estimates the reduction in emissions possible from the actions in the plans for transport. The estimates depend on simple assumptions from regional and national data sources; they would be improved by studies of traffic routes and volumes and by surveys of the attitudes of consumers to driving and sharing.
Climate Emergency Conservation Area Toolkit
Chris Procter, 7 March 2023.
The Climate Emergency Conservation Area Toolkit provides up-to-date information and advice about retrofitting buildings in conservation areas, by looking at roof extensions, rear projections, solar panels, windows, external walls and shopfronts. A detailed example, of the Cross Street conservation area in Islington, shows how it can be applied.
Commented Amended Council Solar Panel Guidance
Robert Milne, 21 January 2023.
Islington Council has prepared a short document for householders to state the planning constraints on installing solar panels. Unfortunately the document suggests that solar panel installations can require planning permission or consultation with planning officers; however, that should not be required if the installations satisfy some conditions that can be clearly and simply stated. Our amendments state those conditions, taking account of both the regulations and the considerations discussed in past Council planning decisions. Our comments on the document indicate what the amendments are and why we have made them.
Islington Council has since provided better guidance in a solar panel planning permission checklist associated with the Retrofit Handbook and Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document
Planning constraints on retrofitting buildings for climate change
Robert Milne, 13 December 2022.
The current local and national planning constraints on retrofitting buildings for climate change (both inside and outside conservation areas) are not widely known. Our report sets them out fully, so that planners and building owners can understand when planning permission is (or is not) required. It also describes the legal tools that can be used to to make the constraints take more account of climate change. Though some of it is self-evidently specific to Islington, most of it is relevant throughout the country.
Islington Council has subsequently developed its own Net Zero and Sustainability Planning Guidance for Households largely aligned with our summary of the planning constraints on retrofitting buildings (and now superseded by the Retrofit Handbook and Climate Action Supplementary Planning Document).
Emission reductions implied by the energy and buildings action plans
Robert Milne, 10 October 2022.
The plans of Islington Council for the Net Zero Carbon programme list many potential actions. However, they do not show how far the actions will move the Council towards its Net Zero Carbon objective. Our report estimates the reduction in emissions possible from the actions in the plans for energy and buildings. The estimates depend on simple assumptions from local and national data sources; they would be improved by having better Council data sources and surveys of the attitudes of building owners to retrofitting.
An open letter to all Islington Councillors
David Twine, 16 September 2022.
We have made various proposals to Islington Council for extra activities in the Net Zero Carbon programme. The open letter informs Councillors about some of these and seeks their leadership in ensuring that the Council works effectively with the community to reduce the carbon emissions outside its direct control.
A proposal for a housing retrofit initiative
David Twine, 28 July 2022.
Islington Council has to promote the retrofitting of houses by home owners and private landlords if it is to achieve its Net Zero Carbon ambition. The proposed initiative would stimulate interest, enhance expertise and develop markets by offering to early adopters in selected areas thermal imaging surveys, consultations with retrofit advisors and planners, and retrofit cost models.
Proposals for the Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document
Robert Milne, 21 July 2022.
The Net Zero Carbon Supplementary Planning Document that is envisaged in the Islington Council Net Zero Carbon strategy needs to contain detailed guidance. This set of proposals, covering building features relevant to climate change, is intended to help with providing that. It is based on our study of the Cross Street conservation area and planning guidance more generally.
Commented Amended Cross Street Conservation Area Design Guidelines
Chris Procter, 14 July 2022.
The current version of the Cross Street Conservation Area Design Guidelines is now over twenty years old. Our amendments to it make it up to date and take new steps to protect both heritage and environment. Our comments on it indicate what the amendments are and why we have made them. Though they do not make a full appraisal based on Historic England conservation area guidance, they should give planners and building owners a clear way forward. In doing so, they pilot a way to change the current design guidelines that may be practical in the next eight years for the other conservation areas of Islington.
The next steps after the Council public meeting on Net Zero Carbon
David Twine, 4 April 2022.
We were among the organisations that attended the Islington Council third annual special scrutiny meeting on the Net Zero Carbon programme. This document developed afterwards gives our views on steps for the Council beyond the meeting, emphasising the need to enlist the public in developing and implementing the programme.
Survey feedback
Uzma Zahid, 7 March 2022.
This report summarises our survey in 2021 of people in the streets of Islington. That indicated that nearly a half did not know that Islington Council had declared a climate emergency and nearly three quarters did not know that there was a documented Net Zero Carbon strategy. However, over two thirds regarded as very important some specific objectives of the strategy, such as improving home insulation, reducing car usage, improving air quality, creating green jobs and increasing recycling rates. The quantitative and qualitative feedback from the survey could help with formulating ways of involving people in putting the strategy into effect by emphasising such specific objectives.
Manifesto suggestions
Helena Farstad, 17 November 2021.
Through constructive challenge and input we aim to assist Islington Council in developing and implementing its Net Zero Carbon programme. Much depends on leadership by the Councillors, who can build on the public understanding of climate change. Accordingly this paper suggests items for the manifestos in the 2022 council elections.
Islington Environmental Alliance 