Policies and Measures

In addition to targets for renewable and low carbon energy, the evidence base should be used to inform the preparation of locally specific energy policies.

The PPS1 Supplement on Climate Change states that “Policies should be designed to promote and not restrict renewable and low carbon energy and supporting infrastructure”. Examples of policies that could be included in the Local Development Framework include:

• Selection of land allocations for development that co-locate uses with compatible energy demands or identifies suitable locations for renewable and low-carbon energy technologies and infrastructure
• Provisions to charge a Community Infrastructure Levy
• Local Development Orders to permit specific types of renewable and low carbon energy and infrastructure

Other measures will be required to support the development of renewable and low carbon energy, beyond what can be achieved through spatial planning. More information on enabling mechanisms which can support the development of renewable and low carbon energy are provided on the making it happen pages.

Planning policy will also determine whether or not planning permission is required for renewable and low carbon energy technologies, and how applications for permission should be assessed.

Domestic permitted development rights have been extended on a national basis for some micro-renewable and low carbon generation technologies. Unless located in Conservation Areas or other locations with special designations, planning permission is not required for the following, provided they meet certain design criteria:

• Domestic photovoltaic panels
• Solar thermal panels
• Ground and water source heat pumps
• Wood burning boilers, stoves and CHP

See www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Getting-planning-permission.

Local Development Orders can be used to extend permitted development rights to other types of renewable and low carbon energy and supporting infrastructure, and for other use classes.

The PPS1 Supplement on Climate Change requires 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”. PPS22 advocates a criteria-based approach to determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon energy, with clear guidance on how they will be assessed. This generally applies to larger, stand-alone installations. GO Yorkshire and the Humber has developed guidance for local planning authorities which, although out of date, still contains useful information. (www.gos.gov.uk/497763/docs/199734/199731/247395/275860)

Energy is a very fast moving field. Policies will need to be flexible enough to accommodate changes in:

• Economic circumstances: Policies will extend over a number of economic cycles and should be flexible enough to accommodate this uncertainty. This can include negotiating targets on a site-by-site basis with the applicants according to viability, and including provisions in policy to ratchet up the targets during times of economic recovery.
• Technologies – the viability, feasibility and availability of technologies is changing rapidly. Policies and targets should not be prescriptive about which technologies to use, to avoid mandating equipment that is out of date or precluding new technologies.
• Energy demands – the evidence base should build up a basic understanding of current and future demands. However, it will not be possible to fully reflect unforeseeable changes that new technologies or lifestyles could bring.