What needs to be done and why?
Strategic Issue 1
What needs to be done
- Accelerate large-scale retrofitting of town centre housing to improve insulation, heating systems, and ventilation.
- Expand funding and enforcement for private rental sector compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
- Integrate climate resilience measures (e.g., flood-proofing, overheating protection) into retrofit programmes.
- Develop granular housing condition data to target interventions effectively.
Why
- Poor energy efficiency drives fuel poverty, worsens health outcomes (respiratory and cardiovascular disease), and increases carbon emissions.
- Town centre properties are disproportionately affected, reinforcing health inequalities.
- Climate change will exacerbate risks (heatwaves, flooding), making resilience essential for long-term wellbeing and cost savings.
Strategic Issue 2
What needs to be done
- Create and connect new green spaces in deprived and densely populated areas, ensuring accessibility within 300m of homes.
- Improve quality and safety of existing parks through maintenance and community-led design.
- Embed green infrastructure standards in planning policy and regeneration projects.
- Use nature-based solutions (e.g., rain gardens, tree planting) to deliver dual benefits for health and climate adaptation.
Why
- Access to green space is linked to better mental health, reduced mortality, and increased physical activity.
- Current inequities mean deprived communities miss out on these benefits, worsening health disparities.
- Green infrastructure also mitigates urban heat and flood risk, supporting climate resilience.
Strategic Issue 3
What needs to be done
- Integrate climate projections into all planning and regeneration strategies.
- Expand property-level resilience measures (e.g., flood doors, raised electrics) through grants and incentives.
- Invest in nature-based flood mitigation (wetlands, permeable surfaces) alongside hard infrastructure.
- Strengthen community preparedness through awareness campaigns and emergency planning.
Why
- Sea-level rise and extreme rainfall will increase flood risk, threatening homes, infrastructure, and health.
- Early investment in resilience reduces future economic and health costs.
- Community engagement ensures equitable adaptation and avoids widening social inequalities.