WIREDGOV

Green light for home energy improvements

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

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400;
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk