Key facts
- England risks constructing buildings that fatally overheat due to inadequate climate safeguards.
- Research indicates 2,700 deaths occurred during recent heatwaves in England and Wales.
- Only about half of local council plans mandate cooling or ventilation strategies for new buildings.
- The 'future homes standard' from 2028 will not apply to buildings like schools, hospitals, and care homes.
- Experts state the 'future homes standard' is insufficient without considering surrounding green infrastructure and shading.
England faces the risk of constructing new buildings that could become fatal 'death traps' due to overheating, according to planning experts. Concerns are mounting over the safety of vulnerable populations during heatwaves, with recent research indicating approximately 2,700 deaths in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves.
A report by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) revealed that only about half of local plans developed by councils and local authorities include requirements for new buildings to have a cooling or ventilation strategy to prevent overheating. While nearly all English councils express an intention to incorporate green infrastructure, such as trees for cooling or access to waterways, only around a quarter utilize a recognized tool to ensure these provisions are effectively implemented.
Celia Davis, interim director of operations at the TCPA, emphasized the severity of the issue, stating, "This is a matter of life and death. We need to avoid building death traps." She noted a discrepancy between the stated ambitions of many local authorities and their actual achievements in addressing heat concerns.
The RTPI's report, 'Local Plans and the Climate Crisis,' employed AI to analyze local plans. Although the use of AI was described as 'experimental,' the RTPI expressed confidence in the findings providing a generally reliable overview.
New regulations known as the 'future homes standard' are set to govern house construction from 2028, including measures for winter warmth and summer cooling. However, these rules will not extend to buildings like schools, hospitals, and care homes. Planning experts also suggest the standard may be insufficient to prevent overheating, as it does not mandate features like louvres and shutters recommended by specialists to block heat. Dan Slade, head of research and practice at the RTPI, highlighted that the surrounding environment, including the presence of trees and green spaces, significantly impacts the heat experienced within homes.
Furthermore, 'permitted development rights' allow for the conversion of offices into dwellings, often resulting in 'glass boxes' that are prone to overheating. A survey in London indicated that 14% of such converted homes, estimated to be around 120,000, lacked openable windows.
The Woodland Trust also issued a report advocating for increased tree planting near housing to mitigate heat. Their findings revealed that over 11 million people in the UK live in areas with less than 10% tree shade, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals. England's tree canopy cover is among the lowest in Europe, at an average of 17.5%, with only a third of urban residents benefiting from recommended tree cover levels.
The RTPI report found that while 99% of local plans mentioned green infrastructure, only 27% employed a 'green space factor,' a best-practice tool for ensuring adequate and appropriate green space in developments. A government spokesperson stated that national building regulations and planning policy already require new homes and their surroundings to minimize unwanted heat, and that the 'future homes standard' addresses energy efficiency. The government is also reviewing relevant building regulations to determine if overheating rules can be applied to homes converted from commercial buildings.