Policy and planning

The need for more carbon-efficient communities and national energy security has led to legislation requiring auditable energy outcomes.

European directives

The Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources directive (EU 2020 renewable energy strategy) sets a binding target for the European Union of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020. The UK’s proportion is 15 per cent (up from around 2 per cent in 2008).

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive set out the requirement for a national calculation methodology for energy consumption in buildings and mandatory monitoring of energy use. This has given rise to the changes in Part L of the Building Regulations and the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates.

Towards a low carbon economy is the European Commission's strategic energy technology plan. The vision is for a sustainable economy with leadership in clean, efficient and low carbon energy technologies as a motor for prosperity and a key contributor to growth and jobs.

National legislation

Through the Energy Act 2008 government has taken powers to provide new renewable energy incentivisation income streams such as feed-in tariff (FIT) and renewable heat incentive (RHI).

The Climate Change Act now requires 80 per cent CO2 savings from 1990 levels by 2050 as a binding target along with interim targets to steer reductions along the way.

The Energy White Paper sets out the government’s strategy to address climate change and ensure security of energy supply. The strategy focuses on cutting CO2 emissions, maintaining the reliability of energy supplies, promoting competitive markets and ensuring that every home is adequately and affordably heated.

The emerging UK Renewable Energy Strategy will provide a clear steer for the development of the renewable energy sector to meet the binding UK targets under the EU 2020 Renewable Energy Strategy. The strategy will increase the contribution of renewable sources in the three main energy-consuming sectors – electricity, heat and transport.

Supplement to PPS1: Planning and Climate Change places CO2 emission reduction and the increased production and uptake of zero and low carbon energy at the heart of spatial planning and design.

PPS22: renewable energy sets out national planning policy on renewable energy. A companion guide provides more detailed advice on the implementation of the policy statement.

Building a greener future from CLG requires all new housing from 2016 to be net-zero CO2 emitting for all energy used within the home over the course of a year.

The CLG’s current consultation on a revised zero carbon definition will have significant implications for the way in which we build new homes and neighbourhoods. This consultation proposes a definition of zero carbon new homes, based on high energy efficiency, on- or near-site carbon reduction, and allowable solutions for dealing with the remaining emissions. The paper also sets out current Government thinking on zero carbon new non-domestic buildings.

The Definition of zero carbon report explores the background to the CLG’s options for a future single definition of 'zero carbon'.

The Code for sustainable homes pushes for progressively higher sustainability audit scores for housing, with government funded projects already required to achieve a minimum standard of ‘level 3’. A Code for Sustainable Buildings is expected shortly.

Policy areas requiring resolution

Many sustainable requirements under planning legislation evolved before Building a greener future and are now in need of significant updating following confirmation of the likely timetable requiring zero carbon new buildings. Understanding how existing guidance works alongside the new policy framework can be confusing.

The government sought to clarify the situation with the supplement to PPS 1. This states planning authorities should:

  • base all future policy on a firm evidence basis
  • adjust local strategic plans to maximise the uptake of low and zero carbon energy opportunities as efficiently as possible following an audit of local resources
  • specify the requirements in terms of the achievement of nationally described sustainable buildings standards.