Swindon makes the most of innovative planning measures
Swindon Borough Council has been nationally recognised for being the first in the UK to use innovative planning measures, known as Local Development Orders (LDOs), to help encourage more low carbon energy generation. The plans could see all of Swindon’s housing powered by clean energy.
Dr Nina Skorupska (right), chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association (REA), said: “Swindon Borough Council should to be praised and congratulated for leading the way in addressing the need to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. More renewable energy in the UK means lower greenhouse gas emissions, less reliance on energy imports and more jobs.
“By speeding up the planning process for suitable sites, Swindon facilitate the roll-out for renewable energy in the right locations, which not only helps fight climate change but also creates local employment and an uplift in business rates. If adopted, Swindon would be a model for Councils across the country.”
The Low Carbon LDO forms part of the Borough’s strategy to meet the national target of 15 per cent of all energy requirements coming from renewable energy by 2020. This is particularly important for Swindon owing to the energy intensive industries in the area. Despite being a pioneer in attracting solar farms, including two that provide electricity for Honda’s car plant, Swindon’s share of renewable energy in April 2014 was only 5 per cent. It is hoped that the initiative will provide up to 200 MW of clean energy with 10 per cent of that coming from micro generation.
As part of the LDO, 29 sites are currently being scrutinised by the Borough’s Planning Department, half of those are within the town on sites such as supermarket car parks, motorway sidings and rail embankments; half are within the surrounding rural area on low-grade agricultural land. If adopted, a number of sites will be granted temporary planning permission for 30 years. In addition, certain smaller installations will also become “permitted development”, i.e. not require a planning application.
The Borough has admitted that it faces “unique challenges” owing to limited brownfield land, competing housing needs, a large industrial base and a surrounding AONB that covers 28 per cent of the Borough. It says, “Swindon is therefore reliant on sites in the countryside to deliver the bulk of its renewable energy generation capacity.”
