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LOW AND ZERO CARBON DEVELOPMENTS
Role of the planning system
33. In March 2007, the Executive published ' Achieving a Low Carbon Future', 9 the first Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland. This sets out the substantial steps that the Executive is already taking and its proposed way forward to ensure that energy efficiency and microgeneration make an increased contribution to sustainable development, climate change and energy objectives. A key role of the planning system will be to support a move towards new low and zero carbon developments through the use of energy efficient, microgenerating and decentralised renewable energy systems so that carbon reductions are considered and secured at the design stage of projects.
Building standards
34. The Scottish Building Standards Agency report Sustainable Development
Policy into Practice - New Buildings describes the Executive's progress in furthering the sustainable development of new buildings, both domestic and non-domestic. Whilst sustainability of new buildings is already required to a certain extent by current building regulations, this issue is further developed by amendments to the standards, for example, on access, energy, drying washing, heating and ventilation, which will come into force in 2007. These changes to the energy standards, combined with the outcome of future reviews, will continue to improve the energy performance of new buildings and give encouragement to the incorporation of low or zero carbon technologies.
Considering opportunities
35. The planning system already supports the delivery of sustainable development in new buildings through locational, siting and design considerations. In addition, development plans must include policies on the provision of low carbon and renewable sources of energy which complement the increasingly high levels of energy efficiency required by building regulations. Advice on the range of on-site renewable energy generation technologies is provided in Annex A to PAN 45.
Targets
36. Development plans should set out local policies on the provision of on-site low carbon and renewable sources of energy in new developments. Policies should ensure that, in all instances, opportunities for incorporating these technologies are fully explored by developers as part of the planning application process. The expectation should be that all future applications proposing development with a total cumulative floorspace of 500 sq metres or more should incorporate on-site zero and low carbon equipment contributing at least an extra 15% reduction in CO2 emissions beyond the 2007 building regulations carbon dioxide emissions standard. The intention is for national targets to increase through the Action Plan that will be prepared to implement the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy. In the meantime, the development plan process should be used to consider whether local circumstances justify going beyond 15%; below the 500 sq metres threshold; and whether higher standards can be secured for particular developments, including the potential for decentralised energy supply systems based on renewable and low-carbon energy.
37. Applications should only be exempt from targets where developers are able to demonstrate that technical constraints exist. In such circumstances, policies should ensure that developers meeting targets are not disadvantaged by securing from the applicant, by agreement, equivalent carbon savings elsewhere in the area.
Permitted development
38. The Executive is also positively considering extending permitted development rights so that more microgeneration equipment can be installed on existing buildings without the need to obtain planning permission. Research has been undertaken on the scope for doing so and public consultation will be undertaken later this year on the need to change existing legislative provisions. In the meantime, development plan policies should encourage and support microgeneration proposals on existing buildings that satisfactorily address broad criteria, including appropriate environmental and amenity safeguards and the requirements of building regulations.
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