Manchester bus shelters go solar
Bus shelters are to be revamped and fitted with solar-powered panels in order to improve passenger safety and energy efficiency. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) has agreed to spend £100,000 on 49 bus shelters. Roof-mounted solar panels will generate electricity during the day which is then stored in batteries to light... more
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Homebuyers prefer greener houses
The majority of UK homebuyers would prefer a house with environmentally friendly features, according to a new study by Nationwide Building Society. Given the choice between two properties of a similar size and value, 82% of respondents claimed a house with features such as solar panels, had more of an influence on their decision to buy than attic... more
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Walsh starts work on Fenland eco house
Nick Seaton, Fenland District Council's building control manager, joined Tommy Walsh of Ground Force television programme fame as worked kicked off this week on the ambitious plan to build an affordable, eco-friendly, two-bedroom house for £60,000 in just 60 days... more   back to top

LEADER -

Planning restrictions for domestic renewables to be lifted

Labour MP and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly, has proposed to lift planning permission restrictions on “microgeneration” technologies for UK homes and the proposal has been broadly welcomed.

Speaking at the Climate Change Summit held by the Green Alliance, (where Kelly was the key note speaker), she emphasised the key role that local authorities can play in tackling climate change.

Kelly highlighted the fact that UK household emissions account for roughly 5 times more than those from air travel and up to a quarter of the UK’s overall carbon emissions. To help alleviate this situation, she proposed that household micro-generation devices such as wind turbines, solar panels and other microtechnologies should, from next year, no longer require planning permission. The only restrictions would be for installations which would might have a negative impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. “We need a planning system which supports people's efforts to tackle climate change rather than acting as a barrier. These green technologies can help keep fuel bills down and can even allow households to earn a small amount by selling excess electricity to the grid.“

As things stand, applications must be processed and approved by the local council and this may take several months and have considerable cost. There are already approximately 100,000 micro generation installations across the UK, including wind and water power, biofuel boilers and ground source heat pumps. With some of the planning red-tape swept aside, the figure is expected to rise to more than 1.3 million by 2020.

The report that led to this announcement looked at the scope for allowing the installation of micro-generation technologies on homes without the need for a planning application, (see link below).

Final report from a Review of the related Permitted Development Regulations

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