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You are here: Home > Business and planning > Planning > Planning permission > Submitting an application > Energy statement

Energy statement

This page advises that every planning application received on or after 31 March 2008 must include an Energy Statement.

From March 31, the Council will require all new housing, whether new build or conversion and all new commercial development to incorporate on-site renewable energy production equipment. This equipment must reduce the development’s predicted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 10%.

The figure of 10% is a minimum. Large development sites should promote innovative approaches to heat and energy, such as district heating or combined heat and power (CHP); for all developments in excess of 5,000m2 floor space, this should be regarded as the norm.

In this way, the Borough intends to ensure new development plays its part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and promoting a self-sufficiency approach to energy generation. 

Elements of the Energy Statement

The Energy Statement should set out the predicted CO2 emissions of the development and best practice arrangements showing how these can be reduced by at least 10%, through the on-site generation of renewable energy. 

It is for the applicant to demonstrate the effectiveness of different renewable technologies. Figures should not be presented without context. In order to adequately assess the feasibility of renewable technologies and their contribution to reducing carbon emissions a design process should have been followed.

The Energy Statement should include the following information:

1. the energy efficiency of the building
2. the feasibility of CHP and or community heating
3. a list of renewable technologies considered
4. the baseline annual predicted energy demand of the development
5. the baseline annual predicted carbon emissions of the development
6. the contribution of each proposed renewable energy technology
7. cost information of technically feasible renewable technologies
8. a summary of the benefits of renewable energy technologies included

9. the reduction in the development’s baseline carbon emissions.

Guidance on how to assess the carbon impact of a proposal, including consideration of energy efficiency, can be obtained from the C-Plan Carbon Impact Assessment external website (opens in new window).

Where it can be demonstrated to the Local Planning Authority’s satisfaction that it is not possible to secure at least 10% of energy needs from renewable sources, developers will be expected to make an equal contribution to energy efficiency through enhanced insulation of buildings, i.e. to a standard above the current Building Regulations.  

Applications that do not include the above material may be refused planning permission as being contrary to policy SE2, except where the Council can be confident that the necessary details can be secured by planning condition.

Please note for consistency, the term “renewable energy” means the generation of energy from renewable sources and includes biomass because wood fuel can be grown. The term “energy efficiency” means minimising energy loss from a building by insulation, etc.

Securing renewable energy in development - policy background

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, as Local Planning Authority, will be applying Surrey Structure Plan (2004), policy SE2, “Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation” and the Government’s Planning policy Statement on Climate Change (a supplement to PPS1 “Delivering Sustainable Development”), to a wide range of developments. 

Emerging local policy in the Council’s Local Development Framework will provide further detail in due course.

Further information on renewable options

The main options for generating energy from renewable sources are:

• wind
• solar thermal and photovoltaics
• biomass (renewable fuels such as purpose grown energy crops and wood fuel)
• ground source heat pumps.

Further details on these and other options can be found in the document Implementing Structure Plan SE2 (Surrey Country Council external website opens in new window) and from the following organisations:

• National Energy Foundation (external website opens in new window) 
• Renewable Energy Association (external website opens in new window) 
• British Wind Energy Association (external website opens in new window) 
• Solar Trade Association (external website opens in news window) 
• Ground Source Heat Pump Association (external website opens in new window).