COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (075) issued by The Government News Network
on 4 April 2007
Communities
Secretary Ruth Kelly today unveiled plans to slash planning red
tape to make it easier for people to put green technology - like
solar panels - on their homes and play their part in tackling
climate change.
In a speech to the Green Alliance, she launched a consultation
which recommends that people will no longer need to apply for
planning permission to put 'microgeneration' devices on
their homes where it is clear there is little or no impact on
neighbouring properties.
Ruth Kelly made clear that she wants local people to think
carefully about which type of technology will work best in their
local area. Local authorities will retain the right to restrict
planning permission in exceptional circumstances where the benefit
of the technology is clearly questionable and outweighed by its
impact on the local environment.
Ruth Kelly said:
"This consultation document sets out important changes the
Government wants to make the planning system to encourage the
take-up of microgeneration. This will play an essential part in
helping us meet a significant proportion of our future energy needs.
"I believe that the local planning system should support
efforts to tackle climate change rather than acting as a barrier,
but it is important that we ensure that there are clear,
common-sense safeguards on noise, siting and size and that the
unique features of conservation areas are protected".
At present, there are more than 100,000 microgeneration
installations across the country - including wind, water source or
ground source heat pumps and bio mass. In the Energy White Paper,
the Government will provide new incentives with the aim of raising
eightfold the number of households which are producers as well as
consumers of energy.
Responding to the consultation, Dave Sowden, Chief Executive of
the Micropower Council said:
"We are most encouraged by the Government's willingness
to tackle the planning system which was acting as a serious
barrier to customers who want to invest in microgeneration as part
of playing their role in tackling climate change.
"The current planning system says "no" unless
there is a good reason to consider otherwise. In future it will
say "yes" within properly considered, pre-defined
limits. This will make a big difference to large numbers of
customers wanting to take up microgeneration but put off today by
bureaucracy and inconsistency.
"Of course, the limits need to be set appropriately, and
after proper public debate. We welcome the consultation as an
opportunity to have an informed debate about the detail in the
coming months."
The announcement is part of a strategy to ensure a more
community-based approach on green matters, where every homeowner,
local business and local authority can play a greater role. In her
speech, Ruth Kelly said that she wants to see local authorities
step up the work they are doing to tackle climate change.
She added:
"Local businesses and councils have a strong role to play.
In many places local government has been ahead of national
government - leading the debate, not following it. We must
encourage further innovation and help ensure all councils meet the
standards of the best."
The consultation paper is part of ongoing work at Communities and
Local Government to protect and enhance the environment and to
tackle climate change. This month, the Code for Sustainable Homes
has 'gone live' which creates a single national standard
to guide industry on the design and construction of sustainable housing.
Notes to Editors
1. The closing date for responses to Consultation Paper: Changes
to Permitted Development is 27 June 2007. The paper can be found
here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1508888.
2. Ruth Kelly was speaking at the Green Alliance's Front
Line Local Government and Climate Change Summit. Further
information can be found at http://www.green-alliance.org.uk
3. The Government's microgeneration recommendations will
cover technology including solar, wind, water source or ground
source heat pumps and bio mass.
4. The proposals for consultation are based on independent
research undertaken for the department in order to balance and
manage the impact on others against the desire to promote
microgeneration take-up. The Government will seek views on these
to ensure it has a consensus. Also published today is a report by
planning consultancy firm Entec, which fed into the
Government's proposals. It can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1504866
5. The Micropower Council is an industry body of companies, Trade
Associations, Professional Institutions and NGOs with interests in
the promotion of microgeneration. Further information can be found
at http://www.micropower.co.uk
6. The proposals on planning form part of a wider initiative to
improve the planning process which will be taken forward in the
Planning White Paper later in the spring.
7. As well as helping to reduce carbon emissions, homeowners can
also reap long-term financial benefits. In a year, south-facing
solar photovoltaic panels can cut a household's electricity
bills by up to a half.
8. Renewable energy reduces carbon emissions meaning cleaner air
and provides a secure and sustainable resource instead of relying
on fossil fuels. Currently in the UK, renewable energy contributes
only about 4.2 per cent of the total amount of electricity
generated. However, the Government has set a target to generate 20
per cent of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
9. New research from the Energy Savings Trust points to a
dramatic rise in public interest in energy efficiency. More than
two-thirds of people say it is now important to them in buying a
home and almost half say they would be willing to pay an extra
£10,000 for an environmentally friendly home.
10. Renewable energy can also help provide those living in remote
areas with an alternative to traditional power from the grid which
may be difficult or expensive to access. For example, a ground
source heat pump costs from £6,500 to install and can save £750 a
year in areas which are not connected to the gas network.
11. Further information about the Department's environment
programme can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1503251
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