Climate Change

Climate change has become an increasing focus, especially with

the recent announcement of the creation of the new Department of

Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The new Department will bring

together the former Climate Change Group (CCG) which was part of

the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

and the energy group from the Department for Business, Enterprise

and Regulatory Reform (BERR). Ed Milliband has been appointed by

Gordon Brown as the new Secretary of State for this Department.

This shows that climate change is starting to be taken far more

seriously at governmental level as is the link between climate

change and energy.

Residential Properties

Extensive works need to be carried out to existing properties,

well beyond the budgets available from local authorities. Thought

has been given to how this might be achieved. One solution

suggested was for a loan to be taken from the European Investment

Bank in order to undertake works; with the government paying the

interest on that loan; and CERT payments paying part of the cost of

the capital; the other part of the capital will then be paid off

when a property that has had works undertaken to is sold. This

potential model would pay for a huge number of renewable energy

schemes including solar energy, wind energy and district heating

schemes. This offers a "have now, pay later" solution to

the funding problem.

Eco-Towns

There are many eco-town proposals, although a recent ruling in

the High Court means that there will be a Judicial Review of the

whole government's eco towns policy. The proceedings, by a

residential group called BARD [Better Accessible Responsible

Development] not only seek a declaration from the High Court about

a particular site to be discontinued, but also that the

government's whole eco town's policy is unlawful. BARD

suggest that "large scale local planning decisions should be

left to local authorities who should have direct accountability

regarding the impact on locals".

A group of 21 charitable organisations, led by the Town and

Country Planning Association and Shelter, have together signed a

joint statement supporting the controversial plans for eco towns.

They claim the emphasis should be on making the eco towns work to

provide much needed housing accommodation.

Planning Policy Of New Developments

A recent paper by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) looked

at the issue of defining zero carbon and the use of on or off site

renewable...