The TCPA shares the deep frustration of many local planning authorities about the complex and contradictory policy from national government on planning for net zero homes in England. National government appears determined to stifle the attempts of local authorities to take innovative action on climate change through the use of local plan policy to secure energy efficient, net zero new development.
The Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) on ‘Planning – Local Energy Efficiency Standards Update’, published on 13 December 2023, seeks to curtail the use of policy approaches that use energy-based metrics, which are designed to achieve emissions reductions through securing fabric efficiency standards and highly energy efficient buildings.
