Local councils must put climate change at the heart of planning decisions and the government should introduce tougher legislation to compel them to consider new renewable energy projects, a coalition of environmental campaign groups and planning organisations said yesterday.
The group, which is led by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and Friends of the Earth, said new guidance was "desperately needed" to drive green development and have called on the government to take a tougher stance with councils who are reluctant to grant planning permission for renewable energy projects, such as windfarms.
Draft proposals drawn up by the group, which were presented to MPs on Tuesday, include introducing binding renewable targets for councils, an education programme for councillors and local planners on climate change and a new body which would provide information on low-carbon developments and monitor progress. They also propose a duty of councils to map the potential for renewable energy projects in their area, especially community-based schemes.
"The planning system must play a key part in UK efforts to meet its targets for tackling climate change," said Andy Atkins, executive director at Friends of the Earth. "New guidance is desperately needed to boost green development and prevent carbon-hungry projects being approved. Local councils have a major role to play in ensuring UK emissions reductions are met - the government must ensure that local councils get serious about CO2."
The proposals come a week after the British Wind Energy Association revealed that three quarters of applications for new wind farms were being turned down by councillors but the group said problems in the system had as much to do with a lack of understanding about how to assess projects. They said their suggestions would make the planning process fairer and ensure it played its part in slashing carbon emissions and meeting climate change targets.
"It's not necessarily a reluctance or the fault of local authorities, it's often simply that they don't have the resources, for example someone specialising in renewable energy or climate change," said Kate Henderson, energy policy manager for TCPA. "There are also a lot of new councillors and its about making sure they have a better understanding.
"We have targets for an 80% reduction of carbon by 2050, but its only going to work if local areas know what they're delivering and what can be delivered. We're not dictating what technologies they choose but that they consider new projects, like community heating proposals.
"One drawback is that there is no methodology for working out renewable energy capacity or emissions reductions for an area. A lot of local authorities don't have the capacity to make these calculations. Defra, the Environment Agency and the UK Climate Impacts programme tackle flooding and weather, DECC deals with renewable energy and carbon emissions, and the department for Communities and Local Government on delivery. It's very confusing to know where to go. There should be a pooling of information.
"Also planning officers need help with evidence gathering- they make assessments on renewable projects but the final decisions rest with elected members. That's why the education programme is so important."
Henderson said the government's attempt to tackle council opposition to renewable energy projects did not go far enough and more ambitious reforms were now needed.
"The planning system can play a key part in tackling climate change by ensuring we get the right amount of renewable energy, by encouraging zero-carbon development and by shaping development which reduces the need to travel by car. But despite some excellent rhetoric, much of the planning system is still locked in the age of stupid. It allows carbon-intensive development and often refuses real solutions to climate change such as renewable energy projects," she said.
The group says it had been given a firm commitment from government that a revised Planning Policy Statement would be published by the end of the year. Henderson said they hoped the government would combine two seperate policies - one on renewables and one on planning and climate change - into one cohesive policy.
Over 30 organisations are backing the proposals, including The National Trust, CPRE and Groundwork but although Henderson said they had consulted with some local authorities who had been enthusiastic she admitted it was "still early days."
Henderson said they had consulted with some local authorities who had been enthusiastic but admitted it was "still early days."
