The Green Party has said demolition work should require a full planning application, unless already included in a local development order.<\/p>\n
In its 46-page manifesto<\/a> released on Wednesday (12 June), the party said it would tighten the rules around demolition if it enters government after the general election on 4 July – and reiterated its opposition to all new road projects, pledging to reinvest the money in other transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n The party said it wants demolition to \u201crequire a full planning application or inclusion in a local development order\u201d to go ahead. A local development order could provide blanket permission for demolition within a certain area, subject to certain criteria.<\/p>\n Currently many demolition works are covered by permitted development rights, depending on factors including the size of structure to be demolished, whether it is in a conservation area and whether the site is subject to proposed redevelopment.<\/p>\n Under the Green Party\u2019s plans, materials created from demolition would also have to be considered for reuse, with \u201crates for disposal of builders\u2019 waste [being] increased to ensure that the economic driver for reuse is firmly in place\u201d.<\/p>\n The demolition industry has long faced calls to find alternatives to ripping down buildings to reduce the sector\u2019s carbon impact.<\/p>\n Last June, Mace<\/a> called on the construction industry and the government to adopt a presumption in favour of retrofitting<\/a>, and a requirement that explanations are given for the proposed demolition of non-domestic buildings.<\/p>\n