BNES Placemaking Policy SCR1 10pct

Impact of B&NES Placemaking Plan SCR1 Renewable Energy Policy

Since B&NES Placemaking Plan was adopted in July policy SCR1  which requires large developments (10 or more homes) to deliver properties which out-perform minimum Building Regulation carbon emissions by 10% delivered by renewable technologies, we have been objecting to planning applications which don’t meet this policy.

Almost all of the planning applications made by developers since the adoption have initially failed to meet the new requirements, largely by ignoring their existence. Transition Bath have objected to all the applications which fail to comply as we feel that in order to meet the UK’s carbon commitment’s all new buildings should ideally emit as near to zero carbon as possible. Luckily most of the developers with encouragement from B&NES Council’s Planning Department have resubmitted the energy component of their applications following our objections, largely complying with the new requirements.

These are the 7 planning applications we have commented on since August, and the results of our objections, 5 have resulted in positive changes by the developer or the council:

Location Description Objection Result of objection
Greenland Road Peasedown 10 dwellings Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10 percent renewables Developer proposes installation Solar PV panels
Lower Bristol Road 204 bed student accommodation Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10 percent renewables, poor cycling provision Planning Officer recommendation to Committee to Permit but with additional conditions on renewable energy and cycling provision
Bath Old Rd Radstock 26 dwellings Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10 percent renewables Urban Design Officer commented on lack of SCR1 commitment, developer has not responded
The Shambles Westfield 10 dwellings Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10 percent renewables Developer agrees to install solar PV, including 19% carbon reduction commitment
Belvoir Castle 10 flats Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10 percent renewables, secure? cycle parking No developer response
Bath Cricket Club 124 bed student accommodation Objection – Combined Heat and Power is not a renewable technology Developer agrees to replace CHP with an air source heat pump which is a renewable technology, however TB has asked for conditions to ensure the backup gas boiler doesn’t become the primary heat source
Milland House Keynsham 20 flats Objection – doesnt meet Placemaking Plan 10percent renewables requirement Council Planning Policy teams have reminded the developer they need to comply with policy SCR1, developer has not responded

Posted in Energy, Planning.