Teaching by example

Will London’s skyline be transformed by the Mayor’s requirements for renewable energy in new London developments? Planners in London, and elsewhere, are looking for sustainable energy considerations in all major applications, including an assessment of the options and the most feasible and suitable package suggested for the scheme.

Since the publication of the Toolkit for planners, developers and consultants (see BSJ 02/05), there has been much work on renewable energy feasibility studies and energy strategies, so that planning applications are now submitted with varied energy efficiency and renewable contributions.

The success of many of these submissions rests with the planners. How will they assess an application’s energy statement, which will include the feasibility of different options and the reasons why (or why not) these have been included? Are developers being asked to provide CHP in unsuitable applications, or a 10% renewables contribution using unreasonable and untried sources? This is a new area for planners and has raised concerns that they do not understand energy efficiency, CHP and renewable energy, and the feasible options for their integration into buildings.

These concerns are being addressed by the London Energy Partnership (LEP). Acting as an independent body bringing a range of sectors and organisations together to deliver energy action more effectively, LEP aims to support both sides and ease policy implementation to make negotiations with engineers run more smoothly. Work started on the project, “Capacity Building on Sustainable Energy Planning Policy”, in August, and is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Mayor of London.

London Renewables (now a part of the London Energy Partnership) had already provided some training and pilot support schemes for planners, councillors, housing associations and developers in London, and is feeding this into the project, while Faber Maunsell Sustainable Development Group is providing technical advice. Their aim is to provide a new tool to simplify communication on energy strategies and provide hands-on support as planners negotiate with architects, engineers and developers.

Party of five

Faber Maunsell SDG will be working with five London boroughs (Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Greenwich, and Tower Hamlets) on the project. It will include five planning applications of a size and type likely to be called in by the Mayor, including large-scale housing, offices, retail and leisure facilities in central and suburban locations. Most of these are currently at the pre-application discussion stage.

The consultant’s specialist advice will enable the planners involved to understand and evaluate the energy proposals put forward by the developers and their designers. Hopefully, the designers will have carried out an energy study on the particular site, or at least will have considered the options.

By meeting jointly with planners and developers, Faber Maunsell SDG aims to help them agree energy efficiency, CHP and renewable resources proposals in the planning application that satisfy both parties and hopefully provide at least 10% reduction in carbon emissions from on-site renewables.

The five case studies that come out of this should capture the essence of the discussions and negotiations, so that other planners can learn from their colleagues and a consistent approach to energy and renewables in planning applications can be developed. Faber Maunsell SDG hopes that the case studies can be rounded off with the energy proposals included in the actual planning application, and even the determination result in some cases.

While the project should help the planners understand proposals for energy efficiency and renewable sources and enable them to make informed decisions, the project is also intended to help engineers and architects understand how the planners will view their proposals and make their decisions.

Negotiations should be smoother, faster and, importantly, cheaper when all participants are talking the same language.

While energy efficiency measures apply across a range of situations, the renewable sources suitable for a suburban housing estate will be different from those usable in a prestige office in central London – or will they?

Photovoltaics, for example, as cladding on a visible office facade may be as useful in making the right statement about sustainability as PV roofs on housing. The planners might be happy with the appearance of both, but the renewable electricity produced may not contribute a significant proportion of the carbon emissions demanded and the developer may not think the cost feasible within the project budget.

Engineers in the firing line?

The requirement for renewables has resulted in a new role for engineers, in addition to ensuring renewable energy works cost-effectively and efficiently. Where the nature of a development precludes solar-based renewables such as PV or wind, a well-engineered ground sourced heating or cooling system could meet planners’ and developers’ needs without compromising the building design.

This means engineers are now in the firing line at discussions with planners, as both the visual aspects and energy requirements of schemes are brought to centre stage at planning meetings. Could the fate of London’s skyline be down to you? Best be prepared.