Dec 17, 2007 -- M2 PRESSWIRE

A new wave of local renewable energy supply and community power schemes will get government backing today.

Changes to the planning system 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 said today, as she published a new Planning Policy Statement on Climate change.

Planners must now promote green growth. New planning rules on economic growth (PPS4), also published for consultation today, will expect councils to provide greater flexibility in their plans to allow different businesses to succeed and create jobs. Councils will be expected to give greater consideration to regeneration and economic factors including by identifying more sites which can be used flexibly if business needs change.

The Government is clear the planning system should do more to support jobs but should also deliver higher environmental standards at the same time. By publishing the climate change 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 which also support the increased housing targets as well as job and regeneration too.

The Government has already set a world-leading timetable for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. But we cannot stop at homes. A new report from the UK Green Building Council also published today, makes clear that new commercial buildings must move towards achieving zero carbon too.

The report, commissioned by Yvette Cooper, will say that industry should be set a similar long term timetable for achieving zero carbon.

Commercial buildings currently account for 18 per cent of carbon emissions.

Ministers believe there is huge potential for local power to support not just new housing development, but new office and other commercial buildings too. The department is working with the UKGBC on a timetable to cut carbon emissions for non domestic buildings. The new planning rules will be expected to support that.

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 local community.

These plans build on the Merton rule which 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.

Councils also have a responsibility to plan in way that prepares for and responds the impact of a changing climate and its consequences - not only the effects which are felt today, but also those that can be anticipated in the future. Communities must be resilient to climate change and plans must provide green spaces and urban cooling.

The priority for any new development continues to use Brownfield land and sites which are accessible for public transport. However the new rules will mean councils should consider where a development is located so that it can maximise the potential for renewable energy generation and provide enough flexibility to allow different businesses to succeed and create jobs.

This could mean making the most of sites which are south facing so they catch the sun, sites that could use windy areas nearby, sites over aquifers for ground source heating, or those near to business and industrial development to take advantage of surplus heat created by large office and economic developments. For example Barking CHP is linked to the power station.

Housing Minister Yvette 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."

"We need to be environmentally ambitious about all buildings, not just housing. We don't just need eco homes - we need eco offices, eco shops, eco pubs and clubs. And surprisingly the technologies to do it may be considerably more familiar than many people think. For example sites on 'the sunny side of the street' may be better for solar panels."

Moving towards a low-carbon economy is a huge challenge. It requires a revolution in the way that we design, heat and power our buildings, and a concerted effort from a huge number of organisations - from local authorities, to developers, to environmental groups and local communities themselves. It also requires collaborative and responsible working to ensure change takes place alongside delivering the additional homes as well as the new jobs and regeneration we need. The policy set out today provides a strong framework for that degree of co-operation.

Notes to Editors

1. Local planning must be refocused to ensure that communities can develop in a way that confronts the twin challenges of twenty-first century - economic globalisation and climate change.

2. A consultation is expected to be launched later this week [by BERR] about changes to energy market that will develop more flexible arrangement to make it economically more viable for distributed energy schemes to contribute to the grid.

3. The Stern report made it clear that climate change poses an urgent challenge. Our planet is already warming up. Our climate is already changing. The cost of action now will be far less than the cost of delay.

4. The new planning policy statements will specifically require local and regional planners:

PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Ensure local plans have strong carbon ambitions and targets - To fully integrate tackling climate change into all planning policy.

- To reduce emissions, stabilise climate change and reach zero-carbon targets and opt for designs that will cope with climate change.

- To locate new developments so they can take full advantage of local renewable and low-carbon energy opportunities.

- To increase the emphasis on delivery so plans don't sit on shelves.

Help to deliver decentralised renewable and low carbon energy - To incorporate local renewable and low carbon energy where viable.

- To apply 'Merton plus' rules across all councils and to go further for specific developments where possible.

- To encourage new developments that limit carbon dioxide emissions.

- To help existing development adopt local renewable or low carbon energy

Speed up the shift to renewable and low carbon energy - To set targets for renewable energy in line with national targets, or better where possible.

- To encourage technological innovation that reduces impact on the climate.

- To develop decentralised renewable energy generation networks.

Create communities that are resilient to the effects of climate change - To ensure communities are fit for future climates.

- To provide public and open space in new development - To recognise benefits greenspaces provide for people, wildlife and flood storage.

PLANNING POLICY STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Plan positively for economic development - To promote new business and economic growth unless there is good reason to believe the costs outweighs the benefit.

- To develop plans that take account of long term benefits, including for the wider regional and national economy. For example job creation.

- To address disparities and promote opportunities for regenerating deprived areas and to support business diversification in rural areas - To allow new business and redevelopment without specific permission, where appropriate.

Recognise the needs of business and use evidence to plan - To develop plans that can adapt to emerging sectors or changes to existing businesses.

- To identify and maintain an attractive, flexible supply of land where sites are multipurpose and ready for business development.

- To avoid designating single use sites and adapt existing single use sites.

- To use robust evidence and market information to underpin decisions.

- To ensure avoid locating hazardous businesses in sensitive areas.

Strike a balance between growth and the environment - To deliver stability, jobs and growth to be sustainable too.

- To achieve a proper balance between economic growth and environmental and social concerns.

- To encourage new uses for vacant or derelict buildings and identify previously developed land for re-use where appropriate - To consider changing work patterns such as home working or live/work premises.

- To consider criteria for permitting appropriate tall buildings - To develop car parking policies that encourage commuters to use of public transport except for hospitals where it is important that the public still have access.

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