Climate Resilience
At MBC, we refer to the following as the main climate risks for which we need to build resilience:
- flooding (fluvial, pluvial, groundwater, sewer, flash)
- heat (drought, wildfire, heat island effects, heatwaves)
- weather events (severity of storms, frequency of storms, successive storms).
Our main data sources for these are as follows:
- flooding - Environment Agency
- heat - Met Office and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum
- weather events - Met Office and the Kent & Medway Resilience Forum
In line with our commitment to climate resilience, so far we have completed the following:
- increased water efficiency standards for all new builds to 110l/p/d
- guided updated regulations for landlords and tenants to the Housing Team
We are also working across Kent via the Kent Housing Group and its subgroups to:
- develop publicity, advice, and information for tenants and landlords
- require and consider long-term impacts of development on the environment as part of the planning process
- deliver the Ecohub and create/promote information and advice for residents on sustainable lifestyles, educational resources, and employment options
- launched the Nature Recovery Fund and Climate Action Fund (£500,000 total)
Climate Adaptation
CLIMATE ADAPTATION REPORT - FOURTH ROUND
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose and Context
This report represents Maidstone Borough Council’s submission for the fourth round of climate adaptation reporting, outlining how the Council is preparing for, responding to, and managing the accelerating impacts of climate change across the borough. The Council declared a Biodiversity and Climate Emergency in April 2019, acknowledging the urgent need to address both the causes and consequences of climate disruption and committing to act decisively across all service areas.
1.2 Strategic Positioning
Since the Climate Emergency declaration, the Council has embedded climate resilience at the within its policy framework through the adoption of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy (2020–2025), which commits Maidstone Borough Council to becoming as close to carbon neutral as possible by 2030, and supporting as close to 2041 as possible within the Borough. Maidstone Borough Council recognises that adaptation to unavoidable climate impacts is essential to safeguarding communities, infrastructure, natural assets, and essential services. The Strategy places emphasis on integrating climate-risk management into decision-making, reflecting the Council’s understanding that rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, wetter winters, storms, and long-term biodiversity decline will increasingly shape borough-wide risk exposure.
1.3 Adapting to a Changing Climate
Maidstone Borough is already experiencing the early effects of climatic change, including greater variability in seasonal rainfall, increasing flood pressures, soil erosion risks, and temperature extremes. The Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan identifies climate resilience as a central priority, requiring the Council to assess risks and vulnerabilities and to implement adaptation measures.
2.0 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
2.1 Climate Emergency Declaration 2019