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Another Labour U-turn on renewables targets?

Greens appalled at government plans

21st August 2007

For immediate release

An expected government U-turn that would stop councils setting energy targets in major new developments has been met with anger and disappointment by local Green Party members.

Until now, councils have been encouraged to include a renewables commitment in their Local Development Framework (the replacement for the local plan). The example was set years ago by the London Borough of Merton, when they required that any major new building must reduce its carbon emissions by 10% through the use of renewables.

This 'Merton Rule' is already on course for adoption in 150 other local authorities. But now, after intense lobbying from the construction industry, the government seems set to outlaw it.

Reports ^{[Note 1]} state that housing minister Yvette Cooper, who last year wanted all local authorities to adopt a Merton rule, is to publish a new draft planning policy statement which effectively abolishes it.

Local Green Party councillor Charlie Bolton said

"This is an appalling prospect. Bristol still hasn't got round to introducing a Merton style rule, and it's well overdue - all today's big developments in the city are going ahead with no real carbon limits. "

"For the Labour government to be even considering abandoning a relatively modest renewables target sends a terrible message on efforts to combat climate change. It is absolutely vital that in order to allow a renewables industry to develop, the government should take a strong lead and promote renewables. The government is completely letting us all down over the vital issue of climate change."

"Many of the buildings going up today should still be around in a century - but most will be inadequate in a decade as the climate crisis bites and oil use is restricted. It's far harder to retro-fit essential renewables equipment than it is to build it in at the construction stage."

The Greens point to the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy produced by the South West Regional ­Assembly as the foundation for planning strategy for the next twenty years. It states, under policy RE5, that 'Larger-scale developments will be expected to provide, as a minimum, sufficient on-site renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions from energy use by users of the buildings constructed on site by 10%.' ^{[Note 2]}

This news follows on from government admissions that it is unlikely to meet its EU commitments on renewables.

-ENDS-

Notes

(1) See, for instance, Guardian report at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/aug/20/energy

(2) Draft RSA, Sec 7 p157 at www.southwest-ra.gov.uk/media/SWRA/RSS%20Documents/Final%20Draft/section_7.pdf

Contacts

Charlie Bolton, Tel. 0117 966 1639
Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer), Tel. 01275 543280