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Berkshire council sticks to its guns on eco homes |
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24 Nov 2009, 6:51 PM
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At the last minute, West Berkshire Council has decided not to ditch its controversial eco-homes policy - at least until the outcome of an outstanding appeal is ruled upon. Last week, the councillor responsible for planning, Alan Law (Con, Basildon) explained how planners had been forced to abandon their policy, after a government inspector ruled that the council was operating against Government guidance.
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In August, local developer Renaissance Habitat, lodged a general appeal against a planning decision and was surprised to find that the inspector singled out the council’s eco-homes policy, as well as awarding them planning permission, forcing local politicians to ditch it.
But now, an appeal from a developer in Streatley may become a clear-cut test case on the policy and gives planners one last hope of maintaining their aspirations for more eco-friendly homes for the next two years. Mr Law said: “It’s of vital importance that we win this appeal. I’m disappointed that a number of local developers have been pressing very hard for short term profit at the expense of climate change.”
In 2006, the council adopted the Code for Sustainable Homes Level Three (CFSHL3), which requires developers to build all new homes to more eco-friendly standards. However, the Government later said that councils did not have the right to impose the policy until they had published a formal document outlining forward planning policy, known as the Local Development Framework (LDF), which West Berkshire Council is expected to publish at the end of January.
While local developers accept they should build homes to high standards, many said that the extra expense of the policy, coupled with the recession, had simply forced them to shelve projects. Also, many of them believe that the conditions of the Code for Sustainable Homes are too prescriptive and the same results can be achieved without a formal standard - which details every aspect of home design from the size of baths to the types of light bulbs used.
During a meeting on Thursday night, Mr Law was expected to tell the leaders of West Berkshire Council that they would have to suspend the policy, but instead removed the item from the agenda.
On Monday (23), Mr Law said: “I'm delighted that members of both parties at the council last week unanimously supported our intention to fight the appeal. When it is heard, the result of the appeal will have national implications for the government's approach to sustainability in new housing, and I'm proud that we will be at the forefront of fighting this environmental cause."
Credits:: Newbury Weekly News Group
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