On-site renewable energy

We are committed to encouraging renewable energy production in large new developments. This can include solar panels, wind turbines and combined heat and power options. The target we use to monitor this is:

Core Strategy Target 11.5

To ensure all non-residential developments exceeding 1,000 square metres of gross floorspace and new residential developments comprising 10 or more units to incorporate onsite renewable energy production equipment to off-set at least 10 per cent of predicted carbon emissions for the period up to 2010, rising 15 per cent for the period 2010 to 2016.

Currently below target.

In 2010 to 2011 of the 34 qualifying developments, 24 (71 per cent) complied with this policy either with or without the application of planning conditions. This compares with 71 per cent in 2009 to 2010 and 19 per cent in 2008 to 2009.

For each of the 10 planning approvals that did not comply with this policy, there were specific reasons why the requirement was not fully applied. These include:

• specific building constraint issues related to listed buildings
• existing planning commitments through earlier planning consents
• an application allowed on appeal
• alternative measures proposed by the developer that were successfully argued as alternatives to the policy

To continue awareness of the importance of renewable energy production this topic will be included in future training sessions for officers and members.

This page of the annual monitoring report was last updated December 2011.