Review of plans, policies and

RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

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  Local authorities are required to plan positively for the use of renewable energy (PPS22, para 1[ii], 8)(MCRSS, para 5.17).
  
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  Increase use of renewable energy technologies (Securing the future – UK government sustainable development strategy, pg 19) (Adopted UDP, para 4.48) (North West Energy Strategy, pg 18)(Action for Sustainability: The Programme for Integrating Sustainable Development Across the North West, pg 19).
  
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  Development plan policies should seek to promote and encourage, rather than restrict, the use of renewable resources (for example, by the development of renewable energy) (PPS1, para 22) (PPS22, para 1[ii]).
  
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  LDDs should support development proposals that will enable farming and farmers to diversify into renewable energy crops (PPS7, para 27[iv[).
  
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  Local authorities should recognise the full range of renewable energy sources, their differing characteristics, locational requirements and the potential for exploiting them subject to appropriate environmental safeguards (PPS22, para 1[ii]).
  
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  Local authorities should not make assumptions about the technical and commercial feasibility of renewable energy projects. Technological change can mean that sites currently excluded as locations for particular types of renewable energy development may in future be suitable (PPS22, para 1[v]]).
  
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  LDDs should contain policies which are designed to promote and encourage, rather than restrict the development of renewable energy sources (PPS22, Para 1).
  
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  Planning policies prepared by LPAs in relation to renewable energy should be flexible as not all technologies are appropriate on all sites (Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22, para 4.14).
  
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  Local planning authorities should set out in local development documents the criteria based policies which set out the circumstances in which particular types and sizes of renewable energy developments will be acceptable in nationally designated areas (PPS22, para 12)
  
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  Local planning authorities should only allocate specific sites for renewable energy in plans where a developer has already indicated an interest in the site, has confirmed that the site is viable, and that it will be brought forward during the plan period (PPS22, para 6).
  
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  Opportunities should be sought to identify proposals and schemes for renewable energy. The criteria in RSS Policy EM17 should be taken into account. (RSS Policy EM17)
  
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  Plans and strategies should seek to promote and encourage rather than restrict the use of renewable energy resources. Local authorities should give significant weight to the wider environmental, community and economic benefits of proposals for renewable energy schemes to contribute to regional targets and mitigate the causes of climate change (RSS Policy EM17)
  
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  Local authorities should work with stakeholders in the preparation of sub-regional studies of renewable energy resources, so as to gain a thorough understanding of the supplies available and network improvements, and how best they can meet national, regional and local targets (RSS Policy EM17)
  
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  Planning permission will be granted for renewable energy development provided that the impact on environmental quality and amenity does not outweigh the benefits of the development’s potential contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, diversifying the country’s energy supply, and meeting national targets for the production of renewable energy (Adopted UDP, Policy EN21)
  
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  As most renewable energy resources can only be developed where the resource exists and where economically feasible, local planning authorities should not use a sequential approach in the consideration of renewable energy projects (PPS22, para 16).
  
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  Local authorities should work with stakeholders in the preparation of sub-regional studies of renewable energy resources, so as to gain a thorough understanding of the supplies available and network improvements, and how best they can meet national, regional and local targets (RSS Policy EM17)
  
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  Small-scale projects can provide a limited but valuable contribution to overall outputs of renewable energy and to meeting energy needs both locally and nationally. Planning authorities should not therefore reject planning applications simply because the level of output is small (PPS22, para 1[vi]).
  
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  Consulting with residents and other stakeholders who stand to be affected by a new renewable energy development is of critical importance (North West Energy Strategy, pg 15 and 21) (PPS22, para 1[vii])(Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22, para 4.6).
  
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  By 2010 at least 10% (rising to at least 15% by 2015 and at least 20% by 2020) of the electricity supplied in the North West should be provided from renewable energy sources (PPS22, pg 6)(Energy White Paper, Para 1.22) (UK Climate Change Programme March 2006, pg 36) (Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22, para 2.2) (RSS, Policy EM17).
  
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  12% of the UK’s gross internal energy consumption and 22.1% of their electricity consumption should be generated from renewables by 2010 (Directive 2001/77/EC, Article 2, para 4).
  
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  Double the use of renewable energy across the EU by 2010 – in effect, increase the proportion of total primary energy supply which comes from renewable sources in the EU from 6% to 12% (EU Energy White Paper, para 1.3.1).
  
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  The energy planning system must be able to take into account and allow for the full implications of the drive towards a greater role for renewable energy and for a more localised pattern of generation and distribution (Energy White 2007, para 8.72).
  
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  The Government will work with local authorities and with the industry to: ensure that high quality renewable energy schemes are prepared; resolve potential local impact problems; and improve the engagement with local communities on the case for renewable energy (Energy White Paper 2007, para 8.83).
  
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  Recognising the particular difficulties faced by renewables in securing planning consent, the Government is also:
  

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  Underlining that applicants will no longer have to demonstrate either the overall need for renewable energy or for their particular proposal to be sited in a particular location;
  
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  Creating the expectation amongst applicants that any substantial new proposed developments would need to source a significant proportion of their energy supply from low carbon sources (including offsite and onsite renewables)
  
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  Encouraging planners to help create an attractive environment for innovation and in which the private sector can bring forward investment in renewable and low carbon technologies; and
  
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  Giving a clear steer to planning professionals and local authority decision-makers, that in considering applicants they should look favourably on renewable energy developments (Energy White Paper, 2007, para 5.3.66)
  

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  The Electricity Networks Strategy Group document: Our Electricity Transmission Network: A Vision for 2020 takes develops electricity generation and demand scenarios consistent with the EU target for 15% of the UK’s energy to be produced from renewable sources by 2020. There are no specific implications identified for Salford (Our Electricity Transmission Network)
  
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  Atlantic Gateway Renewable/ Low carbon energy generation activities:
  

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  Development of renewable and low carbon energy sources, such as wind farms, biomass power, energy from waste, solar power and tidal power;
  
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  Green heavy industry corridor along the Mersey/ Manchester Ship Canal;
  
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  Clean energy zone along the coastal region;
  
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  Potential of energy crops; and
  
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  Reforestation to create Co2 sinks