Strategic Objectives:

E Responding to the climate emergency,

G Healthy and safe communities,

H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.

A Development proposals must be designed in response to a sitespecific assessment of the most effective and efficient energy supply options, taking into account the Council’s Energy Masterplan. For large-scale schemes such as major developments, applicants should engage at an early stage with the relevant energy suppliers and bodies to establish future energy and infrastructure requirements necessary to support the development.

B Development proposals should prioritise connection to decentralised heat networks. Major development proposals must provide a Feasibility Assessment for connecting to, and if possible extending or interconnecting, existing or planned future heat networks located on or in proximity to the site. Proposals for minor new-build development, conversions and building alterations must demonstrate that they have investigated and maximised opportunities to connect to existing heat networks.

C Where a decentralised heat network is planned or likely to be delivered in the future, development proposals should be designed to enable a cost-effective connection to it, having regard to Heat Network Priority Areas of the London Heat Map and energy masterplans.

D Major development proposals within Heat Network Priority Areas should have a communal low-temperature heating system. The heat source must be selected in accordance with the London Plan heating hierarchy

E Development proposals for CHP and ultra-low NOx gas boiler communal or district heating systems will only be acceptable where it is demonstrated that other options in the heating hierarchy have been fully investigated and are not feasible, and there will be no adverse impact on air quality. Air Quality Assessments must include full dispersion modelling to assess impacts on nearby receptors.

F Where CHP and ultra-low NOx gas boiler systems are acceptable in line with (E) above, proposals should be designed in a way that enables, and does not preclude, the decarbonisation of the site wide communal network in the future.

G Major housing development proposals must, and all minor housing proposals should, submit an estimated heat unit supply price (£/kWh), annual standing charges and projected annual maintenance costs for their proposed Energy Strategy. This should include information detailing any assumptions the calculations are based on.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan