U.K. Aims to Help More Businesses Go Green

August 29, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The U.K. Communities and Local Government announced environmental and planning consultancy Entec was called on to create new planning rules that will ensure the system is doing more to encourage the use of renewable energy.

The goal of the research is to make it possible for more shops, offices, pubs and clubs to be powered by renewable energy by making it easier for businesses to install "green" technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

The research will specifically look at removing barriers to installing small-scale renewable and low carbon technology equipment that can, at present, lead to increased costs and delays, according to the government.

Businesses are currently required to go through the planning system when they, for example, want to install a solar panel or a small wind turbine. A planning application can cost about £1,500 and take eight to 16 weeks to be considered by councils, without guarantee of approval.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears asked Entec to investigate how renewable energy equipment can be included as "permitted developments," which means the changes can be made without the need for specific planning permission as long as there is clearly no impact on others or the local environment.

The research will also consider what safeguards will need to be in place for circumstances where the benefit of the technology is questionable and outweighed by its impact on the local environment.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper asked the U.K. Green Building Council (UK-GBC) to set out a route map for improving the overall energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings with the aim of delivering substantial reductions in carbon emissions from new buildings over the next decade.

"This research will be crucial to working out how we can support the business world to do its bit, as we move to a zero-carbon culture," Communities Secretary Blears said.

It is estimated that 30% to 40%t of the U.K.'s electricity could be met by installing microgeneration equipment to all types of building by 2050. Renewable technologies can reduce a building's carbon footprint and can vary from wind and water generation to ground sources, such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. Commercial buildings account for 18% of carbon emissions.

Energy efficient buildings, which draw some or all of their energy from low- or zero-carbon technologies, help reduce carbon emissions, address climate change and lower fuel bills.

The government also commissioned White Young Green Planning (WYGP) to carry out a wider investigation into what planning reforms are needed to make it easier for businesses to build extensions or make improvements to their premises.

The research will consider whether the need for planning permission can be removed for minor developments - such as small-scale extensions and changes to shop fronts - where it is clear they have little or no impact on neighbouring properties or the local environment.

WYGP will also set out how local authorities should retain the right to restrict planning permission with strengthened safeguards to deal specifically with eyesore developments.

The new research projects are an extension of the government's commitment to overhaul the planning system and to better equip councils to tackle climate changes, including:

• A commitment to increase the energy efficiency of all homes and for all new houses to be zero-carbon by 2016.
• Proposals to overhaul planning rules to make it easier for homeowners to make minor household extensions and install microgeneration equipment.
• New planning rules that will require councils to consider tackling climate change as a core factor when considering every new planning application and setting out a new role for them in promoting energy efficiency.

Entec, White Green Young Planning and the U.K. Green Building Council are expected to report back to government before the end of the year.

The "Planning for a Sustainable Future" plan to reform the planning system is available on the Communities and Local Government web site at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2425.

Source: U.K. Communities and Local Government.