Zero carbon homes â Regen's summary of the summer's ... - Regensw
Zero carbon homes – Regen’s summary of the summer’s news 1. The government’s response to the Allowable Solutions consultation was published on 8 July 20141 offering some clarity on government proposals The detail on the proposed approach is limited:
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The onsite energy performance requirement (known as carbon compliance) for new homes from 2016 is confirmed as the level equivalent to level 4 energy standards of the Code for Sustainable Homes DECC is supporting the Zero Carbon Hub to research closing the gap between carbon emissions expected from new homes and as-built performance Smaller sites are exempt from meeting the zero carbon homes standard – government will seek views on how to implement this exemption – i.e. what constitutes a smaller site and the definition of the exemption Allowable solutions can be delivered through four different routes, with house builders determining what best suits them: i. the house builder could do more or all carbon abatement on site or through connected measures (e.g. a heat network) ii. the house builder could meet the remaining carbon abatement requirements themselves through their own off-site carbon abatement action (e.g. retrofitting existing buildings) iii. the house builder could contract with a third party to deliver the carbon abatement measures sufficient to meet the house builder’s zero carbon obligation iv. the house builder could make a payment into a fund which then invests in carbon abatement projects sufficient to meet the house builder’s zero carbon obligation Verification and certification arrangements for each allowable solutions route will be developed in discussion with industry and local authorities Details on what can be funded through allowable solutions are limited: the response points to a criteria based approach rather than a list of potential measures, stating that work to both residential and non-domestic buildings will be acceptable and that carbon savings must be cost effective and additional Under the current proposals, allowable solutions will not be restricted to the nontraded sector of the economy – this means that allowable solutions will be able to pay for projects that fall under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The carbon savings from these can be traded by energy intensive industries under the EU ETS – as a result there is no net carbon reduction benefit. The effect will be to reduce the
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/next-steps-to-zero-carbon-homes-allowable-solutions
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cost of emissions for the large energy users, seemingly pandering to the large industry lobby. There is no proposal to tie allowable solutions to specific locations – that means homes built in Cornwall could fund measures in Scotland The role for local authorities is more limited than many hoped. The exact wording gives local authorities the ability to work with the willing house builders on determining where measures take place, but not the ability to set policy requiring measures to be undertaken in their locality or to require higher payments: We want to give local authorities the ability to participate in allowable solutions but within the national framework, working with house builders to bring forward projects to be supported through route iii or by the fund (route iv). The legislation we are bringing forward will allow for this but ultimately it will be the house builders choice as to which route he chooses and there will be a price cap established for any fund.
The price cap for payments made to the fund is to be determined by further analysis – no steer on the likely level is given in the response. The price cap will be reviewed every three years.
2. The Deregulation Bill has continued its passage through the Houses of Parliament The Deregulation Bill as it stands removes the ability set out in the Planning & Energy Act (2008) for local authorities to set higher energy efficiency requirements for new homes through local policy, as many of the south west authorities have either through the Code for Sustainable Homes or through energy efficiency only requirements. The Renewable Energy Association and Solar Trade Association led the Efficient Affordable energy in Buildings campaign for local authorities to keep the Merton Rule – and the current Bill does not remove this ability. A further amendment proposed by Jonathan Reynolds MP requested that changes to the Planning & Energy Act were not implemented before a Zero Carbon Housing Strategy was developed. The amendment was defeated, but government has made positive statements to this effect. Oliver Letwin, Minister for Government Policy, stated that the government will ensure the ending of the local authorities powers “knits properly with the start of the operation of standards for zero-carbon homes and allowable solutions.”2 Whilst this implies that the powers for local standards set out in the Planning & Energy Act 2008 will not be removed until the zero carbon standard is in place, the language is not totally clear – allowing some wriggle room. During the debate in the House of Lords on 17 July 2014, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon repeated word for word the statement from Oliver Letwin – so did not offer any further clarification on government’s intentions.3
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http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-06-23a.152.2&s=speaker%3A10355#g153.0 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/140717-gc0001.htm
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3. Different experiences of local planning authorities in relation to Code and Merton Rule policies The Inspector of the Bath and North East Somerset Core Strategy issued his report on 24 June 2014.4 The Council’s “Code for Sustainable Homes” requirements and the 20% on-site Merton rule were rejected as the Inspector gave great weight to the Government’s future stated policy intentions. The Inspector did acknowledge that the evidence that the Council commissioned from Regen SW showed that application of the Merton rule was viable and technically feasible (para 264). Swindon Borough Council is still waiting for its Inspector to issue his report following its Examination in Public in May 2014. The Inspector appeared to be taking a positive approach to sustainability at the EIP, where Regen supported the Council with some analysis of its proposed targets. Meanwhile, East Hampshire’s Core Strategy was adopted in June 2014 with Code requirements and a Merton Rule intact.5
Hazel Williams, [email protected]
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http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Planning-and-Building-Control/PlanningPolicy/Core-Strategy/cs_pins_final_report.pdf 5
http://www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc/formsfordownload.nsf/0/33F3D358AF64CDE180257D0F 00475F46/$File/JCS+FINAL+VERSION+TEXT+ONLY+070714.pdf
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The onsite energy performance requirement (known as carbon compliance) for new homes from 2016 is confirmed as the level equivalent to level 4 energy standards of the Code for Sustainable Homes DECC is supporting the Zero Carbon Hub to research closing the gap between carbon emissions expected from new homes and as-built performance Smaller sites are exempt from meeting the zero carbon homes standard – government will seek views on how to implement this exemption – i.e. what constitutes a smaller site and the definition of the exemption Allowable solutions can be delivered through four different routes, with house builders determining what best suits them: i. the house builder could do more or all carbon abatement on site or through connected measures (e.g. a heat network) ii. the house builder could meet the remaining carbon abatement requirements themselves through their own off-site carbon abatement action (e.g. retrofitting existing buildings) iii. the house builder could contract with a third party to deliver the carbon abatement measures sufficient to meet the house builder’s zero carbon obligation iv. the house builder could make a payment into a fund which then invests in carbon abatement projects sufficient to meet the house builder’s zero carbon obligation Verification and certification arrangements for each allowable solutions route will be developed in discussion with industry and local authorities Details on what can be funded through allowable solutions are limited: the response points to a criteria based approach rather than a list of potential measures, stating that work to both residential and non-domestic buildings will be acceptable and that carbon savings must be cost effective and additional Under the current proposals, allowable solutions will not be restricted to the nontraded sector of the economy – this means that allowable solutions will be able to pay for projects that fall under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The carbon savings from these can be traded by energy intensive industries under the EU ETS – as a result there is no net carbon reduction benefit. The effect will be to reduce the
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/next-steps-to-zero-carbon-homes-allowable-solutions
Supported by
cost of emissions for the large energy users, seemingly pandering to the large industry lobby. There is no proposal to tie allowable solutions to specific locations – that means homes built in Cornwall could fund measures in Scotland The role for local authorities is more limited than many hoped. The exact wording gives local authorities the ability to work with the willing house builders on determining where measures take place, but not the ability to set policy requiring measures to be undertaken in their locality or to require higher payments: We want to give local authorities the ability to participate in allowable solutions but within the national framework, working with house builders to bring forward projects to be supported through route iii or by the fund (route iv). The legislation we are bringing forward will allow for this but ultimately it will be the house builders choice as to which route he chooses and there will be a price cap established for any fund.
The price cap for payments made to the fund is to be determined by further analysis – no steer on the likely level is given in the response. The price cap will be reviewed every three years.
2. The Deregulation Bill has continued its passage through the Houses of Parliament The Deregulation Bill as it stands removes the ability set out in the Planning & Energy Act (2008) for local authorities to set higher energy efficiency requirements for new homes through local policy, as many of the south west authorities have either through the Code for Sustainable Homes or through energy efficiency only requirements. The Renewable Energy Association and Solar Trade Association led the Efficient Affordable energy in Buildings campaign for local authorities to keep the Merton Rule – and the current Bill does not remove this ability. A further amendment proposed by Jonathan Reynolds MP requested that changes to the Planning & Energy Act were not implemented before a Zero Carbon Housing Strategy was developed. The amendment was defeated, but government has made positive statements to this effect. Oliver Letwin, Minister for Government Policy, stated that the government will ensure the ending of the local authorities powers “knits properly with the start of the operation of standards for zero-carbon homes and allowable solutions.”2 Whilst this implies that the powers for local standards set out in the Planning & Energy Act 2008 will not be removed until the zero carbon standard is in place, the language is not totally clear – allowing some wriggle room. During the debate in the House of Lords on 17 July 2014, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon repeated word for word the statement from Oliver Letwin – so did not offer any further clarification on government’s intentions.3
2 3
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-06-23a.152.2&s=speaker%3A10355#g153.0 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/140717-gc0001.htm
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3. Different experiences of local planning authorities in relation to Code and Merton Rule policies The Inspector of the Bath and North East Somerset Core Strategy issued his report on 24 June 2014.4 The Council’s “Code for Sustainable Homes” requirements and the 20% on-site Merton rule were rejected as the Inspector gave great weight to the Government’s future stated policy intentions. The Inspector did acknowledge that the evidence that the Council commissioned from Regen SW showed that application of the Merton rule was viable and technically feasible (para 264). Swindon Borough Council is still waiting for its Inspector to issue his report following its Examination in Public in May 2014. The Inspector appeared to be taking a positive approach to sustainability at the EIP, where Regen supported the Council with some analysis of its proposed targets. Meanwhile, East Hampshire’s Core Strategy was adopted in June 2014 with Code requirements and a Merton Rule intact.5
Hazel Williams, [email protected]
4
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Planning-and-Building-Control/PlanningPolicy/Core-Strategy/cs_pins_final_report.pdf 5
http://www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc/formsfordownload.nsf/0/33F3D358AF64CDE180257D0F 00475F46/$File/JCS+FINAL+VERSION+TEXT+ONLY+070714.pdf
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