|
|
|
April 08 - Landmark for microgeneration: changes to planning law |
|
1 April 2008
The microgeneration industry
welcomes new Government legislation which will slash planning red
tape to
make it easier for people to install microgeneration technology. From 6
April
2008 microgeneration technologies will become permitted
development
which means householders will be able to take up microgeneration,
within
sensible limits, without having to apply for planning permission.
Download:  The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) Order 2008 40 Kb
Dave Sowden, Chief Executive
of the Micropower Council said: "Today is a landmark in removing red
tape
for the microgeneration sector. From 6 April, most householders in England
will be
able to install microgeneration technologies without the constraints
that have
so far acted as a significant brake on the industry's growth. The
industry fully supports this important move by the Government, and
welcomes its
clear and unambiguous promise to Parliament to extending similar
freedom to
micro-wind and air source heat pumps as soon as a minor, routine, legal
hurdle
has been cleared".
Communities and Local Government
Release - ‘Solar power homes get the go-ahead for April start' is at www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/721541
The Amendment to the Town and
Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England)
Order 1995 for the Installation of Domestic Microgeneration Equipment
was laid before Parliament by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for Communities and Local Government Iain Wright. In an
accompanying statement to Parliament, the government also commits to
extending similar freedom to micro-wind and air source heat pumps in
due course, the only reason not to at this stage being a final,
routine, legal hurdle. (Ministerial Statement and SI attached)
This move is the result of over
three years of industry campaigning, led by the Micropower Council, the
prime mover behind the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006.
Section 10 of this Act required the government to review the system of
permitted development with a view to facilitating the greater uptake of
microgeneration, form a view on necessary changes, and implement those
changes. Today's announcement marks the successful outcome of this
campaign.
The Climate Change and
Sustainable Energy Act is one of the largest private members bills
ever, sponsored by Labour backbencher Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh
North and Leith. The section of the
Act on permitted development was an amendment to the bill taken from
another private members bill that did not progress through parliament
sponsored by Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test.
The Act also contains a wide
range of other measures to encourage the greater uptake of
microgeneration, details of which can be found www.micropower.co.uk/publications/ccsebillmeasures.pdf
Micropower
Council
www.micropower.co.uk
|
|
