Changes in Local Government Energy Legislation
Submitted by admin on February 16, 2006 - 04:51.
‘Merton Rule’
Over 100 local authorities have already reacted to ODPM’s Planning Guidance issued in 2004, Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) by adopting pro-renewables planning policies within Unitary Development Plans (UDP) or Supplementary Planning Documents. Many more are expected to follow.
The London Plan set the strategic planning structure for all major developments in London stating that: “The Mayor will and boroughs should require major developments to show how the development would generate a proportion of the site’s electricity or heat from renewables”.
Each borough is able to define what it considers to be a major development, although the suggested definition currently adopted by boroughs is as follows:
Resistance from developers was expected as the costs of installing solar thermal, PV or micro wind turbines – the most likely technologies – and site constraints, will not have been anticipated. But, experince at Willow Lane and Croydon’s ‘Centrale’ shopping centre shows developers are now keen to incorporate building integrated renewables within their future projects.
Having seen the marketing and economic value in environmentally-friendly, low emission buildings, Chancerygate Developers, who worked on Willow Lane, are now planning a second development in the borough. B&Q have also recognised the potential of onsite energy generation, and are about to build a similar retail warehouse, based on the Willow Lane development.
Merton’s principal environmental officer, Adrian Hewitt, suggests that the policy will be universal by the time Local Development Frameworks consign UDPs to planning history in 2007. Croydon were quick to follow Merton’s lead, and their first project designed to reach the ‘10% target’ is currently underway. North Devon has chosen to demand 15% on-site generation from renewables, and Kirklees Council now demands 30%, a trend that has drawn increasing interest from local authorities across the UK.
Positive feedback from all parties involved in these initial projects indicate that the ‘Merton Rule’ renewables policy will also work as a lever to encourage more energy efficient buildings. This in turn minimises total energy consumption, thereby reducing the percentage requirement and encouraging holistic improvements throughout the construction process.
1 Integrating renewable energy into new developments: Toolkit for planners, developers and consultants, Faber Maunsell, 2004
‘Merton Rule’
Over 100 local authorities have already reacted to ODPM’s Planning Guidance issued in 2004, Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) by adopting pro-renewables planning policies within Unitary Development Plans (UDP) or Supplementary Planning Documents. Many more are expected to follow.
The London Plan set the strategic planning structure for all major developments in London stating that: “The Mayor will and boroughs should require major developments to show how the development would generate a proportion of the site’s electricity or heat from renewables”.
Each borough is able to define what it considers to be a major development, although the suggested definition currently adopted by boroughs is as follows:
Major Developments definition1
For dwellings: where 10 or more are to be constructed (or if number not given, area is more than 0.5 hectares).The London Borough of Merton was the first to see the demand for renewable energy confirmed in its adopted UDP, setting the target at 10%. The first project to comply with this target – ten light industrial units - has recently been completed in Willow Lane, Mitcham, using micro turbines and solar PV to meet the requirement.
For all other uses: where the floor space will be 1000m2 or more (or site is 1 hectare or more). Area of site is that directly involved in some aspect of the development. Floor space is defined as the sum of floor area within the building measured to the external wall faces at each level. Basement car parks, rooftop plant rooms, caretakers’ flats etc. should be included.
Resistance from developers was expected as the costs of installing solar thermal, PV or micro wind turbines – the most likely technologies – and site constraints, will not have been anticipated. But, experince at Willow Lane and Croydon’s ‘Centrale’ shopping centre shows developers are now keen to incorporate building integrated renewables within their future projects.
Having seen the marketing and economic value in environmentally-friendly, low emission buildings, Chancerygate Developers, who worked on Willow Lane, are now planning a second development in the borough. B&Q have also recognised the potential of onsite energy generation, and are about to build a similar retail warehouse, based on the Willow Lane development.
Merton’s principal environmental officer, Adrian Hewitt, suggests that the policy will be universal by the time Local Development Frameworks consign UDPs to planning history in 2007. Croydon were quick to follow Merton’s lead, and their first project designed to reach the ‘10% target’ is currently underway. North Devon has chosen to demand 15% on-site generation from renewables, and Kirklees Council now demands 30%, a trend that has drawn increasing interest from local authorities across the UK.
Positive feedback from all parties involved in these initial projects indicate that the ‘Merton Rule’ renewables policy will also work as a lever to encourage more energy efficient buildings. This in turn minimises total energy consumption, thereby reducing the percentage requirement and encouraging holistic improvements throughout the construction process.
1 Integrating renewable energy into new developments: Toolkit for planners, developers and consultants, Faber Maunsell, 2004
