Runnymede’s Environmental Characteristics

Climate, Air and Noise

Predicted effects of climate change for the south-east of England include increased prevalence of hotter drier summers, the number of ‘hot’ spells, and milder but wetter winters with more intense rainfall events. This has the potential to increase flood events both in terms of risk and severity, cause damage to native habitats and migration of species and/or potential extinction of native plants and animals, and impact on human health, especially the elderly and frail. Flooding caused by intense rainfall could impact Runnymede’s urban areas, with its hard landscaping – the same areas which could experience the ‘urban heat island’ effect due to hotter temperatures in summer months.

The largest emissions contributor is transport, followed by the domestic sector, and then commercial & industrial uses. Trends show that emissions per capita in Runnymede are steadily falling, and total tonnes of carbon dioxide produced in Runnymede are falling (some of which can be attributed to decarbonisation of the national grid).

In the majority of the Runnymede area, air quality is improving, and this trend is expected to continue with improvements in vehicle engine technology. However, there remain two traffic-related Air Quality Management Areas in the Runnymede area. Runnymede can also experience adverse impacts from noise – including from motorways, rail movement and from air traffic from Heathrow Airport.Climate, Air & Noise Headlines

Within Runnymede, headlines include:

  • 2 Air Quality Management Areas.
  • Areas of Lyne, Addlestone, Chertsey and Englefield Green show a relatively high Neighbourhood Flood Vulnerability Index (above UK average) - these areas align closely with areas of higher multiple deprivation.
  • Heat risk is concentrated in the north of the Borough, with an area around Englefield Green facing relatively high heat socio-spatial vulnerability
  • Potential renewable energy capacity, predominantly from photovoltaics.
  • Largest contributor to emissions in Runnymede is transport, following by the domestic sector, and then commercial and industrial uses (trends of falling emissions, but measurements coincide with Covid-19 pandemic).

What does this mean for the Local Plan?

The new Local Plan should, as far as it is able to do so, and without repeating national decision-making policies (NDMPs), support development that is resilient to and mitigates climate impacts by directing development to areas of lower flood risk, contributing to green and blue infrastructure provision and recovery, and energy and water efficiency. Its spatial strategy will need to ensure sustainable patterns of development to encourage sustainable travel, and support measures to improve access, connectivity and attractiveness of active and sustainable travel modes. As well as reducing emissions for climate change purposes, this would have positive outcomes for protecting air quality.

The new Local Plan and/or a future Supplementary Plan could also include design policies or codes which set out locally-specific design principles contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The location of development, including any allocations, should carefully consider issues of noise nuisance and air quality impacts both to and from development.

Sources of further baseline information:

Detailed baseline information, an analysis of existing conditions and future trends and how this information will inform the new Local Plan can be found in Sections 7 & 8 of the SA Scoping Report available on the new Local Plan evidence base web page:

Sources of other useful information: