The coalition government’s decision to scrap Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) will leave the future of renewable energy generation schemes in doubt, warns independent planning and sustainability consultancy DPP.
Without some national direction or targets local authorities are under no obligation to approve planning applications for unpopular renewable energy generation schemes, such as large wind farms or waste to energy schemes.
Sunil Shah, a partner and head of sustainability at DPP said: “For all their faults, RSSs were useful in that they provided the much needed direction on how national targets were to be met and a body of knowledge that often underpinned a local authority’s decision making.
“Developers putting forward an application for renewable energy generation schemes would often be able to argue successfully that such a scheme is needed if regional targets were to be met. By scrapping RSSs and leaving decisions purely in the hands of local authorities it is difficult to see many schemes ever being approved. Local authorities are likely to bow to pressure of local communities who generally do not want to see such schemes on their doorstep.”
RSSs were loved and loathed in equal measures. The North East, for example, generally viewed them as delivering jobs and investment, whereas in the South East they were often seen as a mechanism to promote development against local council wishes.
Sunil adds: “The government is going to have to move quickly to ensure that its commitment to meeting tough EU renewable energy targets is met. A mechanism to remove the local politics from decision making on such an emotive subject is necessary, and that unfortunately means some kind of regional target.
“The government in pursuing this populist policy could find itself lagging behind in meeting its renewable targets and losing a valuable body of knowledge.”
## ends ##
About DPP
DPP is a top ten independent town planning consultancy providing strategic advice to the a range of clients. DPP's chartered planners, sustainability, heritage and design experts work with developers, landowners, business operators and public sector bodies, offering services relating to the development and use of land. The firm operates in all development sectors with a particular presence in residential, retail, regeneration, mixed uses, business and commercial. DPP is committed to maintaining the qualities that separate us from our competitors, as well as continuing to enhance our established reputation for providing high quality, efficient and cost-effective services while helping clients reach their planning and development objectives.
Clients of DPP include Bellway Homes Ltd, Caffé Nero, Centros, Domino's Pizza, English Heritage, Invensys, Liberty Properties, Liverpool Land Development Company, Mercian Developments, The Ministry of Justice, Shell International, Taylor Wimpey, Tesco, Unilever Pension Fund Trustees, United Utilities, the Watkin Jones Group and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Contact
Ceri Edwards, Redwood Consulting
Tel: 020 7828 5553
Email: ceri@redwoodconsulting.co.uk