I need to draw up a Sustainability Statement

[purplemonkey]

so I've been asked to add "A detailed Sustainability Statement is required and this must include a completed 'Energy Strategies' table. This should show how a 20% saving in carbon emissions can be achieved with the use of renewable energy sources." to my planning application.

looks like a bit of technical mumojumbo box ticking government targets bureaucracy. Anyone have any advice on how to do one of these?

 

[GeoffJ]

Why use one from another planning app as a template?

 

[purplemonkey]

thats a good idea. I'll go search for one

 

[tony1851]

What is your planning application for?

 

[Doggit]

What (if any) renewable energy sources are you using

 

[purplemonkey]

Im apply for change of purpose on a commercial building to residential.

And not using any renewable energy sources, apart from the supplier which is 100% renewable sourced electric, but I can't imagine that would need to be known as you can just change your energy supplier at anytime.

 

[Nakajo]

Are you sure that you need to provide this? It seems an unlikely request for a change of use (as opposed to a new build)

 

[purplemonkey]

yeah it does seem overboard.

but I have read through a bunch of applications and I reckon I can put together a document, there is one area that I have no idea how to proceed though and that is the table consisting of the following info:

Building Regulations Part L compliance (“Baseline” energy demand & emissions)
Proposed scheme after energy efficiency measures and CHP (“Residual” energy demand & emissions)
Total savings on residual emissions
Proposed scheme after on-site renewable
Energy demand (kWh pa)
Energy saving achieved (%)
Regulated CO2 emissions (kg pa)
Saving achieved on residual CO2 emissions (%)

how does one work out such detail?

 

[tony1851]

Unfortunately what it boils down to is that the council want you to spend money. These are 'reports' which are generally done by 'specialists' who make a living (£££) out of producing what is ultimately meaningless and pointless drivel done by cut-and-paste.
For a client, I was once required to provide a similar type of report (it wouldn't have helped you, though, otherwise I would have gladly sent it to you). The report came back in an email and I dutifully started to print it out to go with the application paperwork. Half-way through, I gave up because I saw all this wasted paper coming off the printer . I just stapled together the sheets that had already been printed, and posted it off. Clearly, no one at the planning dept ever read it - it was just filed away.
Complete and utter nonsense IMO. FWIW my advice is to try and cobble bits together from other applications in your area - it is pretty certain that no-one will read it - planners don't understand these things anyway.

 

[tony1851]

PS just a thought - is this a policy requirement for validation by your LPA?
If it is an application for a change of use, surely this could be put as a condition on any approval?
If the scheme was turned down, you would have lost that time and money.
Is it feasible to appeal if they will not register tha application?

 

[purplemonkey]

I hear you and agree that most of these reports they require are never read. I really loath dealing with the council job worths.

If I could get a baring on those numbers I will be cobbling it together from what I've read today and I think all will be well. well until the next pointless request comes back from them.

 

[Nakajo]

Which LPA is it? I feel like something's got lost in translation here.

 

[Doggit]

I suspect it's a catch all form, but as you're applying for change of use, I suspect the old "N/A" (not applicable) might suffice. Talk to the planning officers, and get their comments first.

 

[^woody^]

You need to check the national and local validation criteria for the type of application. If a report is required under either of these, then the application can't be validated without one.

If one is requested (ie optional) then not submitting one might not affect the application.

The danger is, if it's deemed important to the decision then a poor report can be used to refuse the permission.

 

[jeds]

I know Bristol LPA well. You won't get validation without a report, which will need to include a SAP showing standard compliance and another showing 20% reduction and the table. My advice is get it done. They cost about £150