New guidance on providing renewable energy in developments
News release dated 4 April 2008 about providing an Energy Statement with planning applications.
Developers of new housing and commercial developments in Reigate and Banstead are now required to incorporate on-site facilities to generate at least ten per cent of their development’s energy needs from renewable sources.
"New development should play its part in reducing CO2 emissions."
Or they must incorporate measures to reduce their development’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least ten per cent.
Energy Statement
From 31 March 2008, every planning application for new housing - whether new build or conversion – or any new commercial development must now include an Energy Statement from applicants.
The statement should set out how the developer plans to the use on-site production of energy from renewable sources to meet at least ten per cent of the development’s energy needs from renewable sources or how they will achieve a minimum ten per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from the development.
Renewable energy sources could include the use of wind or solar power, biomass fuel or a ground source heat pump. High specification building insulation will also contribute to CO2 reduction.
Developers of large development sites will be encouraged to use innovative approaches to providing heat and energy, such as district heating (also known as community energy) or combined heat and power (CHP).
For all developments in excess of 5,000 metres square floor space, this would be expected.
Cllr Joan Spiers Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said: "By taking this approach the Council intends to ensure new development plays its part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and promoting a self-sufficiency approach to energy generation."
Guidance on producing an Energy Statement and more information on the renewable energy options available can be found on the Energy statement page of Council’s website, along with links to other useful information including how to assess the carbon impact of a proposal.
District heating (or cooling) is the distribution of hot water or heat round a development through a network of pipes and uses the hot water or steam created from generating other energy as the heat source.
CHP is a unit that generates both its own power and heat, which is then piped round the development
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