Local elections candidate briefing

A briefing for candidates in the 2021 local elections on how they can help drive sustainability across the built environment

Climate Change Mitigation National and Regional Collaboration Local Area Networks Policy Document

UKGBC has produced a comprehensive briefing designed to help candidates in the 2021 local elections understand how they can help drive the sustainability across the built environment.

Elected representatives can be a vital catalyst for action across a local authority, either by having responsibility for key policy areas, or by scrutinising existing practice.

Local authorities have significant leverage and influence through their services, planning and enforcement roles, housing, procurement, regeneration, economic development activities, education, skills services and investments. Likewise, their wider potential role in facilitating local partnerships, public engagement and communication places them at the heart of developing and replicating local solutions to our environmental challenges.

This briefing is intended primarily as an introductory resource for candidates, covering recommendations and ideas across key areas including: energy and climate standards in new homes; energy efficiency and home retrofit; how authorities can commit to local leadership; nature and climate resilience; circular economy; and social value. It also signposts to other relevant UKGBC resources for more detail.

UKGBC has also recently produced an interactive policy map, displaying leading examples of policy from local and combined authorities across the UK. The map can be accessed here.