THE CLIMATE emergency will take centre stage in a review of the borough's local plan.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will begin the process of updating the document, which is taken into consideration with all planning decisions, this autumn, by asking residents what their priorities are.

And in the draft 'issues and options' report published at a meeting of the authority's cabinet on Tuesday, the climate emergency takes centre stage.

The council propose to ensure new development is as energy efficient as possible in order to reduce carbon emissions, as well as support renewable energy and plan mitigations to the impact, such as flooding and pollution.

Place shaping and protecting the environment also feature on the survey, which is due to be released to public consultation in the autumn.

Housing and supporting the economy and centres, including the regeneration of the Leisure Park and improvements to the Top of Town, are also important measures, the council believes.

Cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, Cllr Mark Ruffell, said: "I see this as the first stepping stone in us having our local plan updated, which of course we are required to do every five years."