Housing minister pledges to review planning policy statement after Conservatives table amendment to climate change bill.
Yvette Cooper, the minister for housing and planning, has promised an "urgent review" of PPS22, the planning policy statement for renewable energy.
The commitment, announced yesterday, followed an amendment to the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Bill tabled by the Conservative shadow environment minister Greg Barker.
Barker's amendment to the bill would require developers to "incorporate on-site renewable energy in all new commercial developments over 1000 m2 and all residential developments over five units."
The amendment would ensure that local planning authorities "specifically encourage such schemes through positively expressed policies in local development plans".
Gideon Amos, director of the Town & Country Planning Association, welcomed Cooper's review. He said: "The Government's commitment to an urgent review of an important piece of planning guidance is key to addressing the challenge of climate change."
Seb Berry, head of micro-renewables at the Renewable Energy Association, said: "We welcome the Government's recognition that this is a serious issue to be addressed. We look forward to Government completing this urgent review as soon as possible."
