17/11/06 - Swindon Conservatives To Force Developers To Go Green

New planning laws could mean that every new house built in Swindon would be fitted with a solar panel.

At a planning meeting on December 12 Swindon councillor Dale Heenan will support proposals to increase the use of sustainable energy.

Following the launch of the Adver's Time To Change environmental campaign, Coun Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe) has been discussing ways to force developers to go green.

He said: "We have conducted a review of planning policy over recent weeks.

"It focuses on areas such as waste, pollution and materials, and one of the requirements I will be supporting is the use of sustainable energy for developments."

Coun Heenan wants a rule to force developers to find 10 per cent of their energy for new builds from sustainable sources.

He said: "I don't think it will cost developers any more than it does at the moment because most of the changes would come at the design stage.

"Instead we are trying to create a complete change of attitude when it comes to housebuilding."

At the launch of the council's Climate Change Action Plan last Tuesday, the borough unveiled a commitment to cutting 1990 levels of carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.

Coun Heenan said that the installation of solar panels would help achieve that.

He said: "I am really interested in the use of renewable fuels, particularly solar power.

"It is important that we look at ways of powering the major developments that are taking place in Swindon in a sustainable way.

"It's not inconceivable that we could see solar panels on the roof of each new house that is built."

If the planning committee gives the green light on December 12 the policy will go out to the community for consultation, opening the way for even more radical change.

Coun Heenan said: "We have a task group working on the issue of sustainable fuels and materials at the moment.

"They are expected to report back in the spring and there is a chance that figure will go up to 25 per cent.

"With the regional authority imposing the development of 32,000 new houses, and the threat of more heading our way, we need to make progress as quickly as possible to meet our commitment to tackling climate change."

Coun Heenan expects a final decision by Easter.

He said: "It is highly likely we will have at least achieved the 10 per cent marker by Easter."

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, "I welcome these plans.  Not only is this essential to help us combat climate change, but we have often argued that it is easier to implement this technology during development, rather than retrospectively.  The Conservatives in Swindon once again are taking the decisions to make a positive difference to the environment."

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