To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps the Department has taken since the written ministerial statement of 8 June 2006 on Planning Policy Statement 22 to promote the wider uptake by local planning authorities of planning policies requiring on-site renewable energy; (103321)

Officials have written to all planning authorities enclosing a copy of my June statement and in doing so underlined that those authorities which had not yet taken steps to include such policies in their plans should do so at the next available opportunity. Government offices are active in their regions in encouraging regional planning bodies and planning authorities to bring forward regional spatial strategies and local development documents in line with national policies.

All inspectors who will undertake the examination of development plan documents have had the statement drawn to their attention and made aware of the importance placed by Government on the use of on-site renewable energy. An inspector will check that the planning authority has prepared the development plan document legally and test whether it is ‘sound’. In doing so, the inspector will consider whether the document is consistent with national planning policy. After the examination, the inspector will produce a report with recommendations which will be binding on the authority. Where necessary, the report will set out precise recommendations for how the document must be changed.

All inspectors are familiar with government planning policies, including on renewable energy and their work is subject to periodic monitoring by the Planning Inspectorate.

My June statement confirmed that in the most recent plans scrutinised to-date there had been increasing take-up of the policy in PPS22 to secure the use of on-site renewables in new developments. The statement provided the details of where the review could be viewed on the communities website. Subsequently, the Town and Country Planning Association published their own survey highlighting “an impressive surge in on-site renewable energy policies”. This suggested that more than 170 local authorities were “working up policies to require developers to generate clean, safe energy on-site in new developments”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the number of publicly funded buildings likely to be built in the next 12 months that will incorporate (a) solar photovoltaics and (b) other small renewable energy systems. (103966)

No estimate or records are held centrally on the number of publicly funded buildings to be constructed which incorporate solar photovoltaics or other small renewable energy systems. The Government expect all planning authorities to include policies in their development plans that require a percentage of the energy in new developments to come from on-site renewables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether it is the policy of the Department’s inspectors to write planning policies requiring on-site renewable energy targets into Local Development Frameworks; (104152)

Officials have written to all planning authorities enclosing a copy of my June statement and hi doing so underlined that those authorities which had not yet taken steps to include such policies in their plans should do so at the next available opportunity. Government Offices are active in their regions in encouraging regional planning bodies and planning authorities to bring forward regional spatial strategies and local development documents in line with national policies.

All Inspectors who will undertake the examination of development plan documents have had the statement drawn to their attention and made aware of the importance placed by Government on the use of on-site renewable energy. An Inspector will check that the planning authority has prepared the development plan document legally and test whether it is ‘sound’. In doing so, the Inspector will consider whether the document is consistent with national planning policy. After the examination, the Inspector will produce a report with recommendations which will be binding on the authority. Where necessary, the report will set out precise recommendations for how the document must be changed. All Inspectors are familiar with government planning policies, including on renewable energy and their work is subject to periodic monitoring by the Planning Inspectorate.

My June statement confirmed that in the most recent plans scrutinised to-date there had been increasing take-up of the policy in PPS22 to secure the use of on-site renewables in new developments. The statement provided the details of where the review could be viewed on the Communities website. Subsequently, the Town and Country Planning Association published their own survey highlighting “an impressive surge in on-site renewable energy policies”. This suggested that more than 170 local authorities were “working up policies to require developers to generate clean, safe energy on-site in new developments”.