Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Comment

Representation ID: 20422

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

BWEA welcomes the preparation of the Council's Local Development Framework (LDF) and wishes to emphasise the important contribution that the Council's policies can make in contributing to both the national and regional targets for renewable energy generation. BWEA strongly recommend that the Council introduce specific policies designed to deliver greater production of renewable energy and increased levels of energy efficiency, in order to minimise the impacts of climate change.

Comment

Representation ID: 20423

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

BWEA strongly recommend that the Council avoid using generic phrases which simply seek to encourage the use of energy efficiency, renewable energy and the minimisation and management of waste and pollution. BWEA therefore strongly recommend the inclusion of an overarching climate change policy and inclusion of discrete, proactive policies on energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable design and construction to provide detailed policy direction on each issue and to ensure that such environmental measures are delivered.

Comment

Representation ID: 20424

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

The LDF should include a robust criteria based policy that will be used to assess all applications for renewable energy developments.

Comment

Representation ID: 20425

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

Planning Policy Statement 22 states that local development documents should contain policies designed to promote and encourage, rather than restrict, the development of renewable energy resources. BWEA therefore recommend that policies designed to safeguard the character and setting of listed buildings, conservation areas and greenbelt, for example, have regard to the positive contribution that renewable energy can play in reducing the Council's overall CO2 emissions and in mitigating against the environmentally damaging effects of climate change.

Comment

Representation ID: 20426

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

Landscape and nature conservation designations should not be used in themselves to refuse planning permission for renewable energy developments. Planning applications for renewable energy developments in such areas should be assessed against criteria based policies set out in local development documents, including any criteria that are specific to the type of area concerned. Local authorities should ensure that any local approach to protecting landscape and townscape is consistent with PPS22 and does not preclude the supply of any type of renewable energy other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

Comment

Representation ID: 20427

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

Planning authorities should not make assumptions about the technical and commercial feasibility of renewable energy projects (e.g. identifying generalised locations for development based on mean wind speeds). Technological change can mean that sites currently excluded as locations for particular types of renewable energy development may in future be suitable. Similarly, local planning authorities should not require applicants for energy development to demonstrate either the overall need for renewable energy and its distribution, nor question the energy justification for why a proposal for such development must be sited in a particular location.

Comment

Representation ID: 20428

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

All information requested of applicants should be proportionate to the scale of the proposed development, its likely impact on and vulnerability to climate change, and be consistent with that needed to demonstrate conformity with the development plan and the Climate Change Supplement to PPS1. Specific and standalone assessments of new development should not be required where the requisite information can be made available to the planning authority through other submitted documents -for example, as part of a Design and Access Statement, or Environmental Impact Assessment.

Comment

Representation ID: 20429

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

An applicant for planning permission to develop a proposal that will contribute to the delivery of the Key Planning Objectives set out in the Climate Change Supplement to PPSl should expect expeditious and sympathetic handling of the planning application.

Practical guidance and support for the implementation of the policies in the Climate Change Supplement to PPSl can be found in its companion guide.

Comment

Representation ID: 20430

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

Low and Zero Carbon Developments The planning system needs to support the delivery of the timetable for reducing carbon emissions from domestic and non-domestic buildings, and local planning authorities are expected to actively encourage smaller scale renewable energy schemes through positively expressed policies in local development documents, as stated in PPS22. Alongside criteria-based policy developed in line with PPS22, the Climate Change Supplement to PPSl recommends that local authorities consider identifying suitable areas for renewable and low-carbon energy sources, and supporting infrastructure, where this would help secure the their development.

Comment

Representation ID: 20431

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: BWEA

BWEA emphasises the contribution that small renewable systems can make, and strongly urges the Council to implement a policy for the mandatory requirement of onsite renewables, as requested by the Minister for Housing and Planning . Such a policy would require onsite renewables to provide electricity for at least 10% of all new buildings' needs (including refurbishments), in addition to stringent energy efficiency/building performance requirements. Recent research by the Department for Communities and Local Government found that around a third of Local Authorities surveyed are introducing such polices within Development Plans. Following this research the Government has urged all Council's to include such policies in their Local Plans.