Policy Announcements, Monday 13 August

Government  

• Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, today announced that Entec - a leading environmental and planning consultancy - have been asked to draw up new planning rules that will ensure the system is doing more to encourage the use of renewable energy and to make it easier for businesses to install 'green' technologies like solar panels and wind turbines. The research will specifically look at removing barriers to installing small-scale renewable and low carbon technology equipment that can currently lead to increased costs and lengthy delays. At present businesses must go through the planning system when they, for example, want to install a solar panel or a small wind turbine. A planning application can cost about £1,500 and take up to eight to sixteen weeks to be considered by councils, with no guarantee it will be approved.