Paragraph 126 highlights the future modes of transport. We suggest the plan needs to be considered in collaboration with plans for adjacent authorities such that facilities (such as charging points for electric vehicles) are provided at the start and end of a journey, with information promoting an enjoyable experience. This could align with provision of charging points in rural areas/hotspots.

Paragraph 133 describes making improvements to and linking habitats as a means of helping communities mitigate for and adapt to climate change, but no mention is made of what these habitats are and where connections will be made. In order to allow comment these points need to be described. Tree planting at scale in the right locations to capture carbon, SuDS to cope with surface water run-off, collection reservoirs within developments providing a source of grey water leading to reduced demand. The scale of ambition should be outlined, even if the details need to work out in Supplementary Planning Documents.

A fuller description needs to be provided showing how access to the countryside have been improved/provided and which, where and how will the quality of environmental assets have been achieved? How will decisions be made when selecting where to improve?

Mention is made of protecting the environment but the focus in the plan is on new build. The greatest level of beneficial impact/change would be realised in existing housing and infrastructure with poor quality build characteristics. What is the link between new and old? What plan is to be in place to apply lessons learned from new build to, for example, retrofit or upgrade? The Local Plan needs to focus on improving existing development if it is to support carbon neutrality.