Planning Permission removed for community and homeowner renewable projects
We welcome the news this week that community, business and homeowner renewable electricity generation projects – for example wind turbines and air source heat pumps – will no longer have to apply for planning permission under new government proposals.
Housing Minister, John Healey, has proposed that these changes to planning procedures will encourage renewable energy generation and help to reduce carbon emissions. Under the new proposals, wind turbines up to 15m would be permitted in locations where they would not become a nuisance to residents.
“As a country, nearly half of our carbon emissions come from buildings. That’s more than roads, railways and airports combined. To stand a chance of tackling climate change, we need nothing less than a national crusade with everyone able to play their part to offset carbon emissions.
“At the same time we need tough rules so that permitted development does not become a nuisance, so I am putting in place strong safeguards in relation to noise levels, size, location and the potential impact on an area.
“It’s not long now until the Copenhagen climate change conference in December. It is essential we achieve an ambitious, comprehensive and binding agreement and we are working flat out to secure that. We need a deal that works globally but also leads to continued change here at home.”
Energy Minister Lord Hunt said: “Our clean energy cashback scheme coming next year will mean people get paid to produce their own renewable energy. We can’t allow the planning system to get in the way of tackling climate change. We’ve already had an overhaul of the planning system for big energy projects and now we’re working on the smaller scale. Small scale renewable generation will contribute to us meeting our renewable energy target for 2020 and making sure we cut our carbon emissions.”
This is a very promising step towards removing antiquated and prohibitive legislation that will further drive the UK’s take up of renewable energy generation.
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We have a vision that Scotland can be a global pioneer in the Cleantech and Renewable Energy industry.
A key way to support this is to build a community, a hub, where those with common interests and expertise can collaborate freely. Cleantech Scotland will be this hub.