A new wave of local renewable energy supply and community power schemes will now get government backing after a raft of changes to the planning system.
The changes will mean all councils will be expected to provide for on-site renewable energy and local community energy schemes to help cut carbon emissions from new developments, Yvette Cooper (Housing Minster) said as she published a new Planning Policy Statement on Climate change.
New planning rules on economic growth (PPS4), also published for consultation, will expect councils to provide greater flexibility in plans to allow different businesses to succeed and create jobs. Councils will be expected to give greater consideration to regeneration and economic factors including identifying more sites that can be used flexibly if business needs change.
By publishing the statement alongside the draft one for economic development, the government is making clear that action on climate change must run alongside economic growth and increased housing. The rules make clear that councils should be drawing up proposals to cut climate change that also support the increased housing targets as well as job and regeneration too.
The planning rules will mean councils and developers should be considering things like solar panels, wind turbines or heat pumps that can generate energy from on the site of new development. They should also look at the potential for connecting developments to neighbouring community heating and power schemes that can serve an entire community.
The plans build on the Merton Rule that requires all new non-residential developments above a certain size to generate at least 10% of their energy on-site from renewable sources or the Mayor of London's plans to double renewable's share of UK electricity supply from the 2010 target of 10% to 20% by 2020.
The changes will mean all councils will be expected to provide for on-site renewable energy and local community energy schemes to help cut carbon emissions from new developments, Yvette Cooper (Housing Minster) said as she published a new Planning Policy Statement on Climate change.
New planning rules on economic growth (PPS4), also published for consultation, will expect councils to provide greater flexibility in plans to allow different businesses to succeed and create jobs. Councils will be expected to give greater consideration to regeneration and economic factors including identifying more sites that can be used flexibly if business needs change.
By publishing the statement alongside the draft one for economic development, the government is making clear that action on climate change must run alongside economic growth and increased housing. The rules make clear that councils should be drawing up proposals to cut climate change that also support the increased housing targets as well as job and regeneration too.
The planning rules will mean councils and developers should be considering things like solar panels, wind turbines or heat pumps that can generate energy from on the site of new development. They should also look at the potential for connecting developments to neighbouring community heating and power schemes that can serve an entire community.
The plans build on the Merton Rule that requires all new non-residential developments above a certain size to generate at least 10% of their energy on-site from renewable sources or the Mayor of London's plans to double renewable's share of UK electricity supply from the 2010 target of 10% to 20% by 2020.
Councils will also have to think about the location of developments much more. The location of a development must now promote green growth where possible.
Ms Cooper said: "It's all about local power. If we are to reach the ambitious zero carbon standards we need a revolution in the way we heat and power our homes. We want councils to do more to back local green energy.
"We need the planning system to do more to back jobs, economic growth and regeneration but also to support higher environmental standards as we do so. Economic growth and environmental standards are not alternatives they need to go hand in hand."
Ms Cooper said: "It's all about local power. If we are to reach the ambitious zero carbon standards we need a revolution in the way we heat and power our homes. We want councils to do more to back local green energy.
"We need the planning system to do more to back jobs, economic growth and regeneration but also to support higher environmental standards as we do so. Economic growth and environmental standards are not alternatives they need to go hand in hand."
Source: www.communities.gov.uk
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