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29 Oct 2007 : Column 680Wcontinued
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the meetings and discussions with representatives of the private sector in respect of the decision to amend the Merton rule. [155447]
Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 17 September 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 October 2007, Official Report, columns 860-61W, confirming that councils will be able to continue with
and adopt new Merton rules and that our new Planning Policy Statement on climate change will support local strategies that include both site (and area) specific targets and Merton-style rules.
In consulting on and developing our measures to drive higher environmental performance in new development, we have had many discussions with a wide range of interested stakeholders. These have involved representatives from the private sector, including those working in the renewables and construction industries, as well as from local government and non-governmental organisations.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if she will estimate the total onsite renewable energy capacity which will be installed by 2010 as a result of the Merton planning rule; [159337]
(2) what her Department's estimate is of (a) the number of completed Merton rule developments in England and (b) the average change in the level of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to such developments delivered as a result of the Merton rule; [159378]
(3) what her Department's estimate is of the number of individual developments which gained planning approval under local planning authority Merton rules in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007; [159382]
(4) if she will estimate the total annual change in the level of carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 if every English local planning authority adopts a Merton rule requiring onsite renewable energy in all major new developments. [159383]
Yvette Cooper: Estimates of the type sought will vary substantially according to the assumptions made on matters such as the range of developments to which local policies arc applied, the expected number of developments to be completed, their energy demands, the extent to which the provision of installed equipment complies with the original planning permission and whether the technologies installed in practice provide the predicted savings. However the Government have set out a timetable for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016. This will require significant increases in the use of renewables and we have assessed that overall implementation of this policy will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2050.
Using their own assumptions, the London of borough of Merton have estimated the demand for renewable energy arising from Merton style policies and, more recently, a study for the Greater London Authority by the London South Bank University has considered the energy performance of applications referred to the Mayor. More generally, an overview of the estimated impact of our energy measures is provided in our White Paper, Meeting the Energy Challenge and supporting publications.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of the Merton planning rule. [159349]
Yvette Cooper: The London borough of Merton adopted their Unitary Development Plan in 2003 with a policy that expects new non residential developments above a threshold of l,000 sq m to incorporate renewable energy production equipment to provide at least 10 per cent. of predicted energy requirements. In doing so they were the first local authority in the UK to include a policy of this kind in a UDP. The council has been heavily involved in promoting the approach leading it to be coined the Merton Rule.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the visits she has made to developments incorporating onsite renewable energy installations in the last 12 months. [159376]
Yvette Cooper: In the last 12 months, members of the CLG ministerial team have visited several developments that demonstrate both high levels of energy efficiency and good use of local renewable and low-carbon energy. These include the BowZed development in East London; the Hockney Green development in Andover; Hockerton Housing project in Nottinghamshire; Environment Trust site at Norfolk Park; Adelaide Wharf in Shoreditch; and the Building Research Establishment Innovation Centre in Watford.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in East Devon were classed as (a) second homes and (b) holiday lets in each year since 1997. [157982]
Mr. Iain Wright: Estimates for second homes in East Devon since 2002 are tabulated as follows. These are as reported by East Devon local authority through the Council Tax Base (CTB1) form.
East Devon | |
Number | |
Source: Council Tax Base (CTB1) returns. |
Figures on holiday lets are not centrally available.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in each London constituency were classified as second homes in each year since 2003; and if she will make a statement. [161535]
Mr. Iain Wright: Information on second homes by constituency is not held centrally.
Estimates are tabulated as follows by local authority and are as reported by London local authorities through the Council Tax Base (CTB1) form.
3 November 2003 | 1 November 2004 | 10 October 2005 | 9 October 2006 | |
(1) Not applicable Source: Council Tax Base (CTB1) returns |
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