Policy information sourced from the Waltham Forest Local Plan

85 A Zero Carbon Borough

Greenhouse gas emissions will be minimised, the borough’s carbon footprint will be reduced and energy efficiency within developments will be maximised by:

A. Requiring all development to promote low carbon energy generation and maximise the opportunity for renewable energy following the London Plan energy hierarchy;

B. Requiring all development of more than one home or greater than 100sqm to be supported by an Energy Assessment (for major development schemes this must be undertaken in accordance with GLA’s latest Energy Assessment Guidance) setting out energy information for the development to demonstrate compliance with the following:

  1. All new major development must meet or exceed the net zero-carbon emissions target in line with the London Plan energy hierarchy and in line with best practice guidance including the GLA’s latest energy planning guidance.
  2. All new build development of more than one home or greater than 100sqm must achieve a minimum of 35% reduction below Part L of the Building Regulations on-site, targeting net zero carbon where possible, in line with the London Plan energy hierarchy and with best practice guidance, including the GLA’s Energy Planning Guidance. Development should meet the following London Plan ‘Be Lean’ stage (energy efficiency) carbon reduction targets before other measures are incorporated to meet the overall 35% reduction target, achieving a minimum of:
    • 10% reduction below Part L of the Building Regulations for residential development;
    • 15% reduction below Part L of the Building Regulations for non-residential development;
  3. Carbon Offset Fund (COF) contributions will then be required for any shortfall in emission reductions;

C. Preparing energy masterplans for large scale development locations in accordance with the criteria set out in London Plan Policy SI3 ‘Energy Infrastructure’ Part B. Energy masterplans should identify:

  1. Major heat loads (including anchor heat loads, with particular reference to sites such as universities, hospitals and social housing);
  2. Heat loads from existing buildings that can be connected to future phases of a heat network;
  3. Major heat supply plant including opportunities to utilise heat from energy from waste plants;
  4. Secondary heat sources, including both environmental and waste heat;
  5. Opportunities for low temperature heat networks;
  6. Possible land for energy centres and/or energy storage;
  7. Possible heating and cooling network routes;
  8. Opportunities for futureproofing utility infrastructure networks to minimise the impact from road works;
  9. Infrastructure and land requirements for electricity and gas supplies;
  10. Implementation options for delivering feasible projects, considering issues of procurement, funding and risk, and the role of the public sector; and
  11. Opportunities to maximise renewable electricity generation and incorporate demand-side response measures.

For more information please see the Waltham Forest Local Plan