Local Standards
At local authority level there will continue to be some variation in the local planning standards set for sustainable buildings and decentralised energy supply for new development. This will reflect local opportunities for higher than the minimum standards to be achieved and the priority given by local authorities to move towards zero carbon at a rate which is faster than that set by the phased upgrading of the minimum standards of the Building Regulations.
The PPS states that
‘Tackling climate change is a key government priority for the planning system. The ambitions and policies in this PPS should therefore be fully reflected by regional planning bodies in the preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies ...and by planning authorities in the preparation of their Local development Documents. Similarly applicants for planning permission should consider how well their proposals for development contribute to the Government's ambition of a low carbon economy and how well adapted they are for the expected effects of climate change (p1)
Local planning standards often emphasise the provision of a specified percentage of the energy demand from the new housing developments to be met from renewable, including on-site and integrated micro-generation installations. This percentage ranges from 10-30%. But it's important to note that, by definition, the more energy efficient the design, the less onerous this requirement - 10% in a highly energy efficient scheme will require less renewable capacity than 10% in a scheme which demands much more energy because of lower quality energy efficiency design. The local planning standards both promote the increase of renewable energy supply and high standards of energy efficient design.
The government wants the provision of Low Carbon Homes to go hand in hand with an increase in the house-building programme the new PPS
‘....sets out how regional and local planning can best support achievement of the zero-carbon targets along side community needs for economic and housing development' (p9) .
The new PPS firstly confirms the central role of planning in helping to achieve zero carbon homes by 2016, an approach which the government is soon to extend to non-domestic buildings. Secondly it is designed to help speed up the shift to renewable and low carbon energy by challenging local councils to do more to promote and support new provision by building on the Merton Rule and setting percentages of energy for new development to be generated from local renewable low carbon sources.
The PPS states that a companion guide provides practice guidance and support for the implementation of the policies in the PPS, but at 4th February 2008 this had not been published.
