Conservation Planner 20 - RSPB

Training pack
helps wildlife
on-site
Energy efficiency –
how planners can help
Climate change poses one of the most significant long-term threats to society and
biodiversity. In response, the UK Government is committed to producing 10% of our electricity
needs from renewable sources by 2010 and to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60%
by 2050.
Improving energy efficiency is key to achieving these targets and the planning system should
play a major role.
Last year, the London Borough of Merton became the first local authority to adopt a
pro-renewables planning policy in its Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The policy encourages
energy efficiency in the design of buildings and in their layout and orientation. It will also now
expect that all new non-residential buildings larger than 1,000 m 2 source at least 10% of their
predicted energy requirements from on-site renewables, such as solar photovoltaic and solar
thermal technologies. In approving the policy, the Government Inspector said that there was
unambiguous national and regional support for Merton’s approach. It is clear that this type of
policy can be successfully and legally adopted.
The Mayor of London sets out a similar approach in his draft London Energy Strategy and has
extended its application to residential developments of 10 dwellings or more. It is expected
that many London boroughs will soon follow suit.
Bat roosts can be at risk on building sites
The construction industry body, CIRIA, has
recently published a resource and training pack,
part-funded by the RSPB, which it hopes will
improve the industry’s ability to address the
impacts of development projects on local wildlife
and habitats. Working with wildlife highlights the
virtue of knowing your site, while addressing the
fundamentals of ecology, current legislation and
the relationships between wildlife and
construction projects. It is an excellent source
of advice for planners.
John Kaczanow
Oldham Metropolitan Council has included a policy like Merton’s in its revised deposit draft
UDP (due to be considered at a public inquiry in mid to late 2004) and, like London, has
extended the policy to include residential developments of 10 or more units.
We should all applaud the contribution that these policies will make to achieving the
Government’s 2010 renewables target. However, we also need to remember that buildings
are designed to last well beyond the 2010 deadline and that developments subject to these
policies will be considered to be outdated within 20 years. The Government has an
aspirational target of producing 20% of the UK’s electricity needs from renewables by 2020.
It is important, therefore, that planning authorities are visionary and have regard for the
longer-term carbon reduction target as well as the shorter-term renewables targets when
developing new planning policies.
Richard Oxley
Transport and Energy Policy Officer, UK Headquarters
e-mail: richard.oxley@rspb.org.uk
Recognising the influence that planning and
conservation legislation has upon the industry,
the pack suggests that we move beyond simply
complying with the minimum legal requirement
and highlights the role that client and designer
can have in achieving Biodiversity Action Plan
targets at a local level. It highlights ways in
which project staff at all levels can be involved in
improving performance in relation to wildlife
issues. Using briefing sheets, toolbox talks and
presentation materials, it demonstrates what to
do and how to do it when you encounter certain
species on-site.
Mark Southgate
For further information on the pack,
visit www.ciria.org or contact CIRIA
by telephoning 020 7549 3300
or e-mailing enquiries@ciria.org
The combined heat and power plant at Beddington Zero Energy Development
6