Red tape threatens green plans

New eco-friendly buildings in Brighton and Hove could be under threat from an increase in government red tape, Brighton and Hove Green party have warned.

The red tape is a result of a new government directive that means that energy efficiency improvements such as solar panels and wind turbines can non longer be included in local ‘supplementary planning documents’ but must be outlined in ‘development plan documents’ which take longer to produce and approve..

It is believed that Planers in Brighton and Hove may face difficulty due to the new legislation as they are currently working on an SPD to improve the quality of new building across the City.

Paul Steedman, Green Party Councillor and member of the Council’s Sustainability Commission and its Planning Committee, said: “We want to spearhead strict stipulations for energy efficiency and renewable power for all new buildings. It's sad to think that the Government, which makes so much noise about tackling climate change, should be the very ones to force us to delay or water down our plans. This is madness; it benefits no one.”
 

Be the first to comment

Nobody has made any comments on this entry - be the first to have your say below.




More Recent News

  • New Year same trouble Alex Coxall 6 Jan. 2009 The 2009 RICS forecast predicts a further fall this year of 10% in average property price, which would mean a peak to trough drop of 25%. The predictions are based on the continued reluctance of lenders to lend and the increasingly glum economic climate we are facing. Read more
  • Darling considers credit guarantees Bloomberg.com 11 Dec. 2008 Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling is considering credit guarantees for households and companies to spur bank lending, a person familiar with the plan said. Read more
  • Rics figures show November fall Alex Coxall 11 Dec. 2008 Figures released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) show that property prices have continued to decline during November. Read more
  • Price drop slows slightly Alex Coxall 27 Nov. 2008 The rate of house price drop fell in November according to figures released by Nationwide today. The market however remains nearly 14 % lower than it was a year ago, as buyers remain worried and lending remains curbed. Read more
  • Housing market Downfall 27 Nov. 2008 Famous scene from an award winning film reworked. Read more
More news