Policy information sourced from the Havering Local Plan
36 Low carbon design and renewable energy
The Council will seek to optimise the energy efficiency of buildings and support low carbon and renewable energy developments including energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings. The Council requires major development proposals to include a detailed energy assessment to demonstrate how the targets for carbon dioxide emissions reduction set out in the London Plan will be met.
The Council will require a cash in lieu contribution to the Council’s Carbon Reduction Fund on any shortfall to secure the delivery of carbon dioxide savings elsewhere.
The Council will require major development to prioritise connection to any existing or planned decentralised energy networks and, where feasible, integrate combined heat and power systems on site.
All stand-alone renewable energy developments should be located and designed to minimise any adverse impacts. Applicants are required to address the following issues in their proposals: impacts on landscape, biodiversity, historic environment, residential amenity, aviation activities, air quality, highway safety and fuel/energy security, including their cumulative and visual impacts.
In assessing the likely impacts of potential wind energy development when identifying suitable areas, and in determining planning applications for such development, the Council will follow the approach set out in the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (along with the relevant sections of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy Infrastructure, including that on aviation impacts).
The Council will support proposals for wind turbines, in addition to the above criteria for renewable energy developments, where:
- They are located within an ‘Area Suitable for Wind Energy Development’ as designated on the Policies Map;
- The proposal has been subject to meaningful pre-application consultation with the affected local community and the application is supported by a consultation statement;
- There is no unacceptable adverse impact on residential amenity in terms of noise, shadow flicker, vibration and visual dominance;
- A noise impact assessment, which considers all relevant National and Local guidance, must be conducted, and identify appropriate noise mitigation measures where required to reduce the impacts on the surrounding occupants;
- It is in compliance with the NPPF and Ministerial Written Statement (HCWS42) or subsequent national policy; and
- There is no unacceptable adverse impact on highway safety on the existing infrastructure or the proposed M25 Junction 28 Improvement Scheme.
For more information please see the Havering Local Plan