LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Early day motion 2693, tabled 10 October 2006 by Colin Challen (Labour). Signed by 117 members.

That this House believes that climate change is the major issue facing the planet; notes the advice of scientists that urgent action is required to address this problem; therefore welcomes action by those local authorities that have put high energy efficiency and low carbon generation requirements in their local plans; is dismayed by the experiences of Cambridge City Council which was required to water down a planning policy requiring large developers to `provide evidence of how they have minimised energy consumption, maximised energy efficiency and considered the feasibility of using CHP systems' as, to quote the Government Inspector, it was `unreasonable to the extent that it imposes more onerous requirements than the Building Regulations'; and therefore supports the provisions of local planning authorities' Energy and Efficiency Bill which would allow councils to include energy efficiency standards higher than current Building Regulations and sustainable energy provisions in the development plans and require them to consider whether to specify conditions relating to energy efficiency and sustainable energy when granting planning permission; and further hopes that the proposed new Climate Change Planning Policy Statement due to be published next year by the Department for Communities and Local Government will also indicate support for this as a first step.

Signatures by party: Labour 67, Liberal Democrat 33, Conservative 9, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Independent Labour 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.