Andrew Lee. Director of Strategy and Partnerships, South Downs National Park Authority

1. Responding to the Climate Change challenge
in Britain’s newest National Park – and the
opportunities for business
Andrew Lee,
Director of Strategy &
Partnerships

2. I will cover
Snapshot of South Downs National Park
A framework for developing our response to Climate Change:
• Understanding the evidence: impact scenarios and footprint;
• Land management for carbon sequestration/increased resilience;
• Reducing demand: eg housing, food, transport;
• Deployment of renewables;
• Communications and behaviour change

3. Designation of a National Park
• 31 March 2010
• 10th to be designated in England

4. Facts and Figures
Length Eastbourne/Winchester 160 km
Area 1637 sq km
Population in the Park 110,000
Visitor Numbers Over 39 m visitor days/year
Area farmed/managed 85%
Woodland 20%
Highest point 280m at Blackdown
Coastline 20.5km

5. Purpose 2
Purpose 1
To promote
To conserve and opportunities
enhance the natural for the understanding
beauty, wildlife and and enjoyment of the
cultural heritage Special qualities
of the area. of the Park by
the public.
Duty
To seek to foster the social
and economic well-being of
local communities Responding to Climate
Change

6. 2010 Defra Circular’s Vision for the English National Parks and the Broads:
By 2030 English National Parks and the Broads will be places where:
• There are thriving, living, working landscapes notable for their natural beauty and cultural
heritage. They inspire visitors and local communities to live within environmental limits and
to tackle climate change. The wide-range of services they provide (from clean water
to sustainable food) are in good condition and valued by society.
• Sustainable development can be seen in action. The communities of the Parks take an
active part in decisions about their future. They are known for having been pivotal in the
transformation to a low carbon society and sustainable living. Renewable
energy, sustainable agriculture, low carbon transport and travel and healthy,
prosperous communities have long been the norm.

7. Tools at our disposal
SDNPA brings to the table:
Public mandate
Convening power
Some new money
People on the ground
Planning powers

8. Understanding the Evidence
Scenarios by 2080 for the South East (including the National Park)
• Summer mean temperatures up between 3 °C and 4.9 °C, winter between 2.6 °C and
3.7 °C – the hottest day temperature could increase by up to 10 °C.
• Winters wetter and summers drier – precipitation likely to decrease by 14 to 28% in
summer and increase by 18 to 30% in winter – rainfall on the wettest day could increase
by up to 45%..
• Cloud cover will reduce. In summer by up to -18%.
• Sea level (cf London) is likely to increase by 30.5 and 43.3 cm.
• Information provided by Natural England 2009

9. Understanding the Evidence (contd)
2080 predictions for the South East
• Coastal defences will come under greater threat from sea level rise and increased storm
events;
• Changes in phenology – already signs in the South East, with evidence that the time the
first leaves emerge on oak trees in Surrey is earlier each year.
• Changing species ranges and habitat requirements – conditions for some species in South
East England may become less favourable.
• Ground water and rivers – falling groundwater levels and low river-flows in summer.
• Information provided by Natural England 2009

10. Land management and carbon
Dual aims: carbon sequestration / increased resilience;
National Park is 85% farmland and 20% (overlaps) woodland;
Huge potential to improve carbon balance by more sustainable land management eg:
• Agriculture on thin chalk soils (new techniques and technologies);
• Management of flood plains in river valleys;
• Forestry techniques and heathland management
BUT: evidence base still very patchy

11. Reducing
Demand:
Knowing where the
emissions come
from:
Understanding
our Carbon
Footprint

12. Reducing Demand: Housing
• 110,000 residents within National Park;
• c50,000 homes in total;
• Market towns like Lewes and Petersfield
• c250 new homes built per year since 2001
Business opportunities in retrofit, microrenewables etc.
National Park can create opportunities for community scale

13. Reducing Demand: Transport
• Huge flows - 25,000 in, 23,000 out;
• At least 39m visitor days per year;
• 63% of commuters use car, 84% of visitors;
• 15 railway stations in or next to Park;
Local Sustainable Transport Fund provides £3.7m new money.
Business opportunities in bike hire, information, local
services,community buses as well as main transport providers

14. Case Study: Sustainable Travel Solutions
£18.2m total package - DfT £3.9m. 2015 aims are:
switch 370,000 visitors to more sustainable modes (12% to 14%).
2% reduction in the proportion arriving by car (88% to 86%),
saving c11,000 t CO2 from 2012 to 2015

15. Renewables
need to find appropriate combination for this protected landscape;
wind, solar, hydro, woodfuel, anaerobic digestion may all play a role;
large scale onshore wind highly controversial;
clear business opportunities in microrenewables and woodfuel :
may provide multiple benefits in terms of carbon savings, jobs and
(in latter case) conservation management.
we are undertaking a detailed energy study

16. Case Study - Woodfuel
• could help deliver both NP Purposes and its Duty;
• potential to heat more than 9,000 homes;
• could replace oil equivalent of > £8 million/year
• > 2,000kW installed to date, using around 2,000m³/year
• 12 major/estate based installations made or planned

17. Woodheat Installations
Woodheat Solutions googlemap:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112016510990366938432.00046cb26b5d97d10dd3b&z=8

18. Case Study: Woodland Carbon Code
Aims to provide assurance to investors that new woodlands grown to
absorb CO2 will actually deliver carbon benefits
Income from the sale of woodland carbon may:
• Help encourage landowners to plant more woodland
• Provide another source of income for landowners
• Make woodland a more attractive land use compared to traditional
farming.
However, in National Park, more about bringing existing woodland
back into management rather than about new planting

19. Case Study:
Eon proposals
for Rampion
Offshore
Wind
Farm:
National Park
response will take
into account carbon
benefits balanced
against landscape
and cable routing
impacts.
http://www.eon-uk.com/generation/3998.aspx

20. Rampion Offshore Wind Farm proposals
• 195 turbines offshore from Brighton
• 2 offshore electrical substations and c13km subsea cable
• Onshore underground cables of around 30km
• sufficient electricity equivalent c450,000 average UK households
BUT: cables would cross National Park at its narrowest and most vulnerable
point
http://www.eon-uk.com/downloads/Rampion_Offshore_Wind_Farm_FAQs_February_2012

21. Communications and behaviour change
• National Park needs to promote informed debate based on real
evidence and policy;
• can also lead by example in own operations;
• policy framework through Management Plan and Local Plan should
enable sustainable business models and inward investment to National
Park economy.

22. Case Study: South Downs Centre, Midhurst

23. Aim: BREEAM ‘Very Good’ or above, living demonstration of potential to
retrofit existing commercial buildings across the National Park:
• Biodiverse ‘brown’ roof, and PV cells covering to flat roofs
• New insulation on 1930s extension – ‘foamed’ glass (66% recycled)
with outer face finished in lime render that is carbon neutral
• New ‘breathable’ insulation system to the inside face of the 1900-
1920s extensions
• Biomass boiler plant, low energy lighting throughout, secondary
glazing

24. Conclusions
• Climate Change is one of the greatest threats to the landscapes for
which the National Park was designated;
• Yet the wrong CC policies and measures could damage these protected
landscapes;
• The NPA is still developing its approach, but has a range of levers
(planning policy, funding, communications, partnerships);
• Need to promote informed public debate, and help create right climate
for investment in sustainable and low carbon business models within
South Downs National Park.

25. Thank you, and please join the South Downs online Forum at:
www.southdowns.gov.uk/forum
andrew.lee@southdowns.gov.uk
07795 287 538 or 01730 811774
South Downs National Park Authority,
Hatton House, Bepton Road, Midhurst,
West Sussex, GU29 9LU