SPP (Scottish Planning Policy) 6: Renewable Energy
 

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6: Renewable Energy and Planning Advice Note (PAN) 84


SPP6 was issued in March 2007 and for all planning applications submitted after this date the SPP is a consideration which planning authorities should take into account.

PAN 84 provides advice for planning authorities to implement the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6: Renewable Energy which states that

"all future applications proposing development with a total cumulative floorspace of 500 square 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 SPP6 policy concerns the integration of low and zero carbon equipment into new developments to reduce CO2 emissions. It uses the building regulations CO2 emissions standard as a baseline. From this the separate and additional planning requirement for a reduction can be measured.


SPP6 continues:

"the development plan process should be used to consider whether local circumstances justify going beyond 15%; below the 500 square 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."

"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."

Provision of equivalent carbon savings elsewhere in the area will apply where the planning authority agrees that there are technical constraints to achieving the emissions reduction target on-site. These should normally be secured by a Section 75 Legal Agreement and may involve the installation of equipment on another site or building, offsetting (e.g. planting trees) or payment into a local authority fund which is used to reduce carbon emissions.  On their own, financial considerations do not constitute a technical constraint.


SPP6 also states that:

"development plans should set out local policies on the provision of on-site low carbon and renewable sources of energy in new development. Policies should ensure that, in all instances, opportunities for incorporating these technologies are fully explored by developers as part of the planning application process."


NOTE:

Good, careful design at the outset will minimise the total energy demand for the lifetime of a development. Design considerations for a development as a whole and for the individual buildings will help to increase the efficiency of energy use.


The planning policy uses the building regulations CO2 emissions standard as a baseline for calculating the percentage reduction. However, the planning policy is a separate requirement to the building standard.


The policy cannot be applied to a ‘change of use'. This is because a ‘change of use' in planning terms equates to a ‘conversion' under the building regulations.  The CO2 emissions standard does not apply to a ‘conversion' under these regulations. The ‘conversion' would therefore not have to be considered for compliance with SAP or SBEM. As there is no baseline for measurement an assessment of compliance with the planning policy cannot be made.


Pre-Application Discussion- Early discussion will highlight the requirements and implications of the policy.  Issues specific to the application can be discussed such as constraints and possible technologies.


Outline Planning Applications- Developer may provide a statement of the intended LZC equipment to meet reduction targets.  This should include the type of equipment, the scale, the location on site and the issues likely to arise from the particular equipment.


Detailed Planning Applications - When the design is completed the results of the carbon calculations should be submitted with the application to the planning authority.