Policy CC/CS: Supporting land-based carbon sequestration

Land plays a significant role in climate objectives, acting as both a source of greenhouse gas emissions and a carbon sink.  Peatlands in particular are an important store of carbon, while other habitats such as woodlands and grasslands also have a role to play, as indicated in latest research by Natural England. In South Cambridgeshire, peatland is located in the very north of the district, as identified on the Natural England peatland status maps.  Alongside many other negative impacts, loss and degradation of natural habitats results in the direct loss of carbon stored within them.  Our evidence, alongside the work of the Committee on Climate Change shows that even after all ambitious carbon reduction actions are taken, there will still be a proportion of ‘residual’ or unavoidable carbon emissions from the economy as a whole.  Land based carbon sequestration, alongside technological means for removing carbon from the atmosphere, will have a role to play. 

While the role of planning in supporting the development of land for carbon sequestration is limited, planning policies already exist to protect nature sites, which almost without exception will act as a carbon sink, and further policies exist to require new development to provide new open space and deliver biodiversity net gain.  Promotion of nature based solutions, where natural systems are protected, restored and managed can assist with the protection of carbon sinks while at the same time providing benefits for biodiversity and health and wellbeing. 

You raised a number of issues related to climate change and land uses, some of which we have addressed under other policy themes. 

• Protect agricultural land, consider food security and protect peat soils  

• Protect woodlands and increase tree planting, including fruit trees, and hedge planting.  

• Provide more guidance on biodiversity and planting.  

• Support rewilding, wetlands and carbon sinks. Create new habitats.  

• Set biodiversity targets and monitor these.  

• Support the Cambridge Canopy Project.  

• Protect and provide gardens and allotments.  

No policy, leave the protection and enhancement of carbon sinks to existing policy related to sites of nature conservation importance - This is not the preferred approach as not all sites of importance for their role as carbon sinks will be covered by designations to protect their nature conservation importance, so this approach could still lead to the loss of areas of land that act as carbon sinks.

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

  : Topic paper 2: Climate Change 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

   Net Zero Carbon Study (2021) 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

  Opportunity Mapping Final Report (2021) 

• Natural England Research Report (NERR094).  Carbon Sequestration by habitat 2021  

South Cambridgeshire

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• Policy NH/3: Protecting agricultural land 

Cambridge

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

2018 

• No current policy

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.