| Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill
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Mr. David Kidney (Stafford) (Lab): What my hon. Friend said struck a chord with me. In 1997–98 she visited a development in Nottingham that could not get manufactured energy-efficient materials such as windows in this country. At the end of last year, I went to BedZed, the zero-emissions development at Beddington Corner, Hackbridge, which is on the Epsom line. The development is an example of marvellous energy efficiency: it has triple-glazed windows, insulated cavities and loft spaces, district waste and heating systems, and power points in the car parks for electric cars to recharge. Everything about the development is highly desirable, and every bit of the construction equipment comes from elsewhere in the world because it could not be made in this country. Six years on, British manufacturers have still not been given a signal to give them the confidence that there would be a home market for their products if they made them. I say, come on Minister, give them that signal now! The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Phil Hope): Everyone seems to have had their Weetabix this morning. The hon. Member for Hazel Grove gave a stirring Column Number: 44 introduction to clause 7, duly followed by hon. Members on both sides of the Committee. I hope that they will accept my assurances that the clause is not needed, because the Government share their aspirations.Planning policy statements, especially in relation to policy context, set out how sustainable development should be tackled. I assure the Committee, in particular my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South, that increased development of renewable energy resources is essential to facilitate the delivery of the Government's commitments on climate change and renewable energy. Positive planning, which is set out in PPS 22, facilitates renewable energy development, and we believe that it can contribute to all the elements of the Government's sustainable development strategy. The statement is central in that regard. A consultation draft was published in November 2003, and following representations we agreed to add, in the final version, additional material on encouraging the inclusion in plans of policies relating to the use of renewables in buildings. I will come to PPS 1 in a moment. Ms Walley: Will my hon. Friend expand on what he means by ''encouraging''? Phil Hope: I cannot tell my hon. Friend now what the wording will be, as the document is still being drafted. However, when it is completed, I want all my hon. Friends to appreciate that it is the vehicle by which the outcomes that everyone wants will be achieved. As the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) said, we want to set high expectations and to have a long-term vision, but we do not want to set obligations that will not achieve the outcomes that we require. We are trying to strike a balance— Mr. Hayes: The key point is whether there will be encouragement or expectation, as there is a difference between the two. Although I said clearly that I did not expect an obligation, the Minister will understand the relevance of the word ''expectation'' in planning policy guidance. Phil Hope: I do understand that but, regrettably, I cannot give the wording to Committee members this morning. The points that have been made on PPS 22—both here and outside the Committee—push very hard for it to have additional wording to encourage the use of renewable energy within buildings. It is difficult, and we have to reach a balance. I understand that all Committee members want to go further, faster, but we have to ensure that any targets in proposed policies do not act as a deterrent to needed development. Hon. Members will appreciate that we have to get that balance right. As the hon. Member for Hazel Grove has made clear, it is already possible for local planning authorities to include targets in development plans that set an expectation for the percentage of total energy in new buildings to come from renewable sources. Some local authorities are already doing that: the Merton plan, to name the example that he gave, is a case in point. The hon. Gentleman was rather harsh Column Number: 45 in his assessment of ODPM officials, but I will not pursue that. There was a difficult issue to resolve in the matter that he mentioned. As he says, other planning authorities are proposing to follow the example of Merton.I have cited PPS 22, which is specific. I now want to bring to Committee members' attention draft PPS 1: the core document that outlines the planning principles that affect the whole planning system, and from which subsequent planning guidance will flow. That overarching statement of core planning policies and principles was published on 1 March, and it puts sustainable development at the heart of the planning system. The document, which is now out for consultation, states:
That is a significant development on the route down which we wish to travel. It is a very recent document and I appreciate that some Committee members may not yet have seen all the details. It gives an assurance of the seriousness of our intent on energy efficiency, and on embedding renewables and CHP into the system. We are taking new steps in the planning system. That is why we do not need the clause. I have given assurances regarding new wording in PPS 22 and the core planning principles outlined in PPS 1. Committee members have raised the issue of how people feel about that culture. There are keys phrases such as ''encouraging expectations'' and so on in legislation, but it is important that everybody is committed to the issue. Committee members are right: the Government need to give a lead, but everyone, including the local authorities, needs to play their part. My hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) gave a good example, but I cannot remember the exact location even though he read out the entire address. That is the kind of example that we should hold up. It demonstrates the high levels of expectation and achievement that are possible when people put their minds to it. The more that we can identify, celebrate and promote such examples of good practice, the more we can encourage planning authorities, developers and others to see whether they can incorporate similar measures into their plans, whether they are working in Milton Keynes, my own constituency of Corby, where housing is set to grow, or anywhere else. Alan Simpson: I thank the Minister for giving way and for the tone of what he has been saying. I do not wish to press him on the discussions that he is still having on PPS 22, but will he take from this sitting a recognition that an important distinction must be drawn between the message that goes from the Government to local authorities, which takes the form of encouragement, and the powers that local Column Number: 46 authorities have to make that encouragement a reality? Only if local authorities feel that they can set requirements will developers and manufacturers accept the seriousness of the message and the fact that there is a market for such buildings. The question is whether the sequence will be ''encourage and encourage'', or ''encourage and empower to set standards''.Phil Hope: My hon. Friend makes a very good point. The Government certainly will consider the tenor of this debate as well as specifics about the direction in which people wish to travel. The statements in PPS 1 are significant—in fact, they are profound—in that they frame the whole of the planning system and its purpose, not only for local authorities but at a regional level as local authorities establish regional economic development strategies that include sustainable development. I shall not go through every part of Government policy, but a consistent theme is played out through all the mechanisms and tiers of central and local government. I also wish to mention the sustainable buildings task group. Yesterday, I met Sir John Harman and Victor Benjamin, the co-chairs of the task group established by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Deputy Prime Minister. Its purpose is to seek a quick response from the public and private sectors as to what we can do to ensure that we build sustainable buildings. I have encouraged the task group to bring forward its recommendations as swiftly as possible. My hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) said that we should grab opportunities as they arise. The task group presents us with a real opportunity to capture support for what we are doing not only from the public sector but from the private sector as well. Ms Walley: Is there scope at this late stage for the task group to consult with CERAM Research in north Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent college of further education, which is about to set up a £5 million construction centre? It is essential that we research new construction methods that incorporate this agenda into new work and new investments. Phil Hope: I thank my hon. Friend for that helpful intervention. I shall draw those examples of good practice in my hon. Friend's constituency to the attention of the task group. It is seeking consultation with house builders, local authorities and regional authorities, and is always on the lookout for examples of good practice. I want to pick up on the point about the timetable; that is, when is the summer not summer but spring, or the other way around. The final draft of PPS 22 will be published this year. In addition to that statement with new wording, we will publish a companion guide that will give examples of good practice—we heard about three or four this morning. We must ensure that the companion guide is as comprehensive as possible so that local authorities, the private sector and everyone concerned will understand that its aims are not just theory. We do not have to travel all the way to Column Number: 47 Scandinavia to find examples of good practice; they can be found in the UK.
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| ©Parliamentary copyright 2004 | Prepared 9 March 2004 |
