Local Authority Preparedness with regard to Climate Adaptation
Case reference FOI2025/01082
Received 27 October 2025
Published 29 October 2025
Request
Response
Qu.1/. Does the council have a climate adaptation strategy? o If yes, is this rolled into the mitigation/Net Zero strategy or is it set out in the form of a separate/stand-alone document? o Please provide link to the document.
Not a dedicated strategy, through adaptation features as a separate priority in our Borough Climate Change Strategy: Borough Climate Change Strategy - TWBC Climate Action
Qu.2/. Has the council conducted a climate risk assessment? o If yes, please provide link to the document o If yes, was it produced using the Local Partnerships Risk Areas Matrix? o What sectors does the climate risk assessment cover? Public buildings Residential buildings New developments Schools Care homes Roads and other transport infrastructure Communication networks – telecom and ITC Energy infrastructure Local businesses Other – please specify
TWBC has not created one yet, however, we utilise the Kent wide climate risk assessment, funded by KCC: Climate change risk and impact assessment - Kent County Council. This has been based on the met office's UK climate projections (UKCP) for the south east. Sectors include: Agricultural, Industry, Natural Environment, People and the Built Environment, Transport, Utilities.
Qu. 3/. Has the council also produced a local climate adaptation action plan with associated timeframe for implementing and reviewing the strategy? o If yes, please provide link to the document
TWBC has produced a dedicated adaptation action plan, as part of the Borough Climate Change Strategy: Borough Climate Change Strategy - TWBC Climate Action
Qu.4/. What measures has the council put in place to withstand the climate impacts (e.g. severe heat, flooding, coastal erosion) experienced or predicted for your area? For example, by implementing: o Measures to alleviate flood risks and manage flooding o Measures to increase resilience of new building developments to climate impacts o Measures to reduce excess heat in new residential buildings o Measures to address overheating in schools, hospitals, care homes and other public buildings o Places for the public to gather in the event of a major climate disaster o Blue and green spaces o Strategies to manage climate-induced health problems o Improvements to make transport infrastructure more resilient o Nature based solutions, such a tree planting or creating wetlands o Coastal defences o SuDS (sustainable drainage systems) o Water efficiency measures o Ways of working with farmers to increase resilience of the food system and align adaptation objectives o Measures to enhance community engagement o Are there other key measures that you have taken? Please give details.
Measures put in place are as follows:
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The Local Plan integrates climate adaptation by protecting the High Weald AONB and Green Belt, which cover 75% of the borough.
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Development is guided to avoid sensitive areas and incorporate climate resilience infrastructure, including flood mitigation.
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The council has a pledge to plant 116,000 trees over the next 10 years (one tree for every resident).
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The Local Plan encourages energy efficient building design to reduce emissions and overheating risks.
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The Local Plan encourages the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new developments to reduce surface water flooding.
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The council has and is delivering grant schemes to better insulate properties of those on low income and facing potential fuel poverty in order to make them more efficient and resilient.
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The council has and is delivering grant schemes to businesses and communities to help support their climate ambitions. Projects include green infrastructure provision and improvement, water and energy saving measures and climate strategy development.
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The council continues to engage with residents on climate issues, gathering insight on resident perception on the risks, where support is required and what residents are already doing to prepare for and tackle climate change.
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The council has received national decarbonisation grant funding to decarbonise key sites, and thus make them more energy efficient and resilient.
Qu.5/. Does the council have access to all the necessary information, technical advice and support to deliver on adaptation planning and implementation?
No. Further internal resources and capacity is required to deliver adaptation projects.
Qu. 6/. Has the council identified funding gaps hindering its ability to implement adaptation action planning? o Which aspects would be priorities for additional funding?
No
Qu. 7/. Has the council identified shortfalls in its capacity, skills and experience to deliver required adaptation actions? o If yes, what is needed?
Yes, additional staff capacity, dedicated to adaptation is required to deliver the adaptation programme we'd like to.
Qu.8/. Is the Council aware of, and does it have the capacity to draw in, external funds for climate adaptation measures? e.g. o Combined Authority funding o Parish Council funding for small scale schemes - water butts, tree planting o Business contributions through Partnership Funding o Community Infrastructure Levy o Partnerships with third sector organisations such as Woodland Trust.
Yes
Qu.9/. Did the council submit a report to ARP4? o If yes, please provide a link Based on the below publications, it appears not: Climate adaption reporting fourth round: local authority - GOV.UK
Qu.10/. Has the council supported the call, as articulated by the LGA, for local authorities to be given statutory duties and powers, sufficient funding and robust support to lead on climate action including adaptation? o If yes, please provide link documenting this support
Outside of declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019, not formally.
Documents
This is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.