Defending the Merton Rule

In recent weeks there has been mounting media speculation that the Government is poised to carry out an astonishing u-turn on its support for the Merton rule in the forthcoming Climate Change Policy Planning Statement (PPS).

If your organisation wishes to publicly support the continuation of the Merton rule please send an e-mail to "info @ themertonrule . org" to be added to the list at the bottom of this posting.

We remain confident however that the Housing Minister Yvette Cooper MP will not bow to pressure from one or two unrepresentative developer lobby groups and reaffirm her support for the Merton rule as set out in her 8 June 2006 Ministerial Statement.  All of the evidence suggests that the Merton rule has proved to be a practical, flexible and effective means of delivering reduced CO2 emissions in major new developments.  For the on site renewables  sector, the Merton rule is a key element of the Government's wider microgeneration strategy.As Cllr Chris Wright, Croydon Borough Council's cabinet member for planning commented recently:

 "Since the rule was first introduced in 2003, we have successfully implemented a planning policy requiring all major developments to offset 10% of predicted carbon emissions with onsite renewables. The policy has led to considerable success in ensuring Croydon's developments are sustainable, in line with the government's commitment to "put ourselves on a path to cutting CO2 emissions by some 60% by about 2050, with real progress by 2020".

Barely a year ago, Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons in her Ministerial Statement that Merton rule "policies have a vital role to play in reducing emissions."  We agree with her.  Since the Ministerial Statement, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has written to every Chief Planning Officer in the country urging adoption of the Merton rule.  A DCLG media release on 8 June 2006 commented:

"A CLG survey of local plans published today reveals many local authorities are now adopting new requirements in their plans for on-site renewable energy in new developments.  The Government is now urging all local authorities to do the same and will include the request in the new planning policy guidance on climate change due out later this year."  (our bold)

We hope that the Minister will continue to honour her very public commitments and ensure that the Merton rule is enshrined in the new PPS.

Over the last two weeks, the Merton rule has been defended publicly by the following organisations, companies and individuals: the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Martin Caton MP, Chris Huhne MP, Peter Ainsworth MP, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Green Alliance, SERA, Tory Green Initiative, CPRE, RIBA, New Local Government Network, Civic Trust, Ramblers Association, Merton Borough Council, Croydon Borough Council, Association for the Conservation of Energy, British Wind Energy Association, Renewable Energy Association, Micropower Council, Solar Trade Association, Ground Source Heat Pump Association, Sustainable Energy Partnership, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Riomay Ltd, Devon Sustainable Building Initiative (DSBI), Green Systems UK, and many more.

Please sign the number 10 petition to help save the Merton Rule or e-mail "info @ themertonrule . org" if your organisation wishes to publicly support the continuation of the Merton rule and be added to the list of names above.