England risks constructing a new generation of overheating crisis buildings that can fatally overheat unless the government tightens standards and prioritizes climate safeguards, planning experts have warned. Fears are growing about the plight of vulnerable people in heatwaves, with research this week suggesting that 2,700 people had died in the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales.
Why Overheating Buildings Are a Deadly Threat
Only about half of local plans being drawn up by councils and local authorities require new buildings to have a cooling or ventilation strategy to prevent overheating, according to findings from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA). While nearly all English councils say they intend to include green infrastructure in new housing developments – such as trees that can cool streets or provision of access to waterways – only about a quarter of them use a recognized tool that would ensure this.
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“This is a matter of life and death,” said Celia Davis, interim director of operations at the TCPA. “We need to avoid building death traps.” She warned that although many local authorities had high aims for dealing with heat, this was not always borne out in practice. “There is a gap between what they say they want and what they achieve,” she said.
The Role of AI in Assessing Local Plans
The RTPI report, entitled Local Plans and the Climate Crisis, used AI to assess local plans from English councils, including those already adopted and those still under consideration. While the authors acknowledged that the use of AI was “experimental” in such a report and had the potential to result in some inaccuracies, the RTPI said it was confident that the method gave a broadly reliable picture.
Comparison of Current vs. Proposed Standards
| Standard | Current Compliance | Proposed 2028 Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling/ventilation strategy | ~50% of local plans | Mandatory for all new builds |
| Green infrastructure inclusion | ~25% use recognized tools | Required for housing developments |
| Heatwave fatality prevention | 2,700 deaths in 2023 | Target zero preventable deaths |
Key Takeaways for Climate Safety
- Overheating crisis is a life-or-death issue requiring urgent action.
- Only half of local plans include cooling strategies for new buildings.
- Green infrastructure like trees and waterways can reduce heat risks.
- The 2028 future homes standard will mandate cooling provisions.
- AI assessments reveal a gap between council intentions and outcomes.
FAQ
What is causing the overheating crisis in England?
The overheating crisis is driven by climate change, inadequate building standards, and a lack of mandatory cooling or ventilation strategies in new developments, leading to fatal heatwaves.
How many people died in the 2023 heatwaves?
Research suggests that 2,700 people died in the May and June heatwaves in England and Wales, highlighting the urgency of addressing the overheating crisis.
What is the future homes standard for 2028?
The future homes standard is a new set of regulations from 2028 that will require new buildings to include provisions for keeping homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter, aiming to prevent overheating crisis deaths.
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