Policy GESP4: Low Carbon Energy

Development of low carbon and renewable energy schemes and smart energy networks will be supported in principle. Community owned low/zero carbon energy projects which maximise the use of the resource, will, in particular, be considered favourably and are encouraged to be included in neighbourhood development plans.

Non-renewable forms of energy generation will only be permitted where it can be demonstrated that: 

1. There is no reasonable prospect of allocated renewable energy facilities being delivered to meet demand
2. All reasonable opportunities for using zero or low emissions technology have been taken.Proposals should avoid, or where reasonable, minimise and mitigate impacts upon local amenity and the natural and historic environment.Proposals will need to demonstrate no likely significant effect or no adverse effect on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites.

Proposals should avoid, or where reasonable, minimise and mitigate impacts upon local amenity and the natural and historic environment.Proposals will need to demonstrate no likely significant effect or no adverse effect on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites.

5.10 Increasing the amount of energy from renewable and low carbon technologies will be crucial in developing an effective response to the climate emergency. The GESP provides an excellent opportunity to deliver new renewableand low carbon infrastructure in locations where the local environmental impact is acceptable. Draft policy GESP4 sets out a positive strategy for energy generation from these sources while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily. Specific planning considerations that apply to heat networks, solar photovoltaic and onshore wind developments are set out in draft policies GESP5-GESP7.

5.11 Smart energy networks (including energy storage and management infrastructure) are key to enabling the grid to function flexibly and efficiently and supporting the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs). On this basis, we suggest this infrastructure should be considered as low carbon/ renewable energy development for the purposes of draft policy GESP4. Such infrastructure should be located to maximise co-location opportunities e.g. providing grid balancing to renewable generation or EV charging opportunities.

5.12 Decentralised energy networks are local networks where energy is generated and distributed close to where it will be used rather than the conventional approach of large power plants providing energy through the national grid. Decentralised energy has a number of benefits including a reduced loss of energy through transmission, an ability to use waste heat from energy generation and industrial processes, lower carbon emissions, and improved energy security. Schemes can serve single buildings, larger developments or be retrofitted to existing communities and across urban areas.

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