Energy Statements for Planning Applications
London and Nationwide
Energy Statements for Planning Applications — London and Nationwide
An energy statement is a technical planning document that sets out how a proposed development will meet the energy performance and carbon reduction requirements of the relevant local planning authority’s adopted policies and supplementary planning guidance. Energy statements are required as part of the planning application process for a wide range of residential and commercial development projects, and in London they are almost universally required for any scheme of more than a few units by the London Plan Policy SI2.
A poorly prepared energy statement that does not adequately address the local planning policy requirements is one of the most common reasons for planning application delays and requests for additional information. At worst, it can result in planning conditions being imposed that require specific energy performance measures such as district heating connections, minimum PV provision, or a minimum percentage carbon reduction that the developer had not planned for and that can be expensive to incorporate retrospectively. Stansted Environmental Services Ltd prepares energy statements for residential and commercial development projects across London and the rest of the United Kingdom, drawing on the expertise of our Elmhurst-accredited OCDEA and NDEA energy assessors and our in-depth knowledge of national and local planning policy.
What Is an Energy Statement?
An energy statement is a report that demonstrates how a proposed development will achieve the energy performance and carbon reduction targets required by planning policy. At the national level, this means demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations, including the Target Emission Rate and Fabric Energy Efficiency tests. At the local level, it may mean demonstrating compliance with additional requirements imposed by the local planning authority minimum carbon reduction percentages above Part L, minimum renewable energy provision, compliance with the London Plan energy hierarchy, connection to a district heating network, or adherence to specific energy performance standards such as the Future Homes Standard.
The energy statement typically describes the energy efficiency measures incorporated in the building fabric, the heating and hot water strategy, the ventilation approach, and any low or zero-carbon technologies included in the scheme, and quantifies the resulting energy performance and carbon emissions using SAP or SBEM modelling output. The document is structured to address each of the relevant planning policy requirements in turn, with clear cross-references to the supporting calculations and technical data.
London Plan Energy Statements — Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green
Developments in Greater London are subject to the energy hierarchy set out in London Plan Policy SI2, which requires developers to minimise carbon emissions through a three-stage approach. The first stage, Be Lean, requires the use of energy-efficient design and building fabric to reduce energy demand. The second stage, Be Clean, requires the use of decentralised energy systems, including connection to or provision of district heating or combined heat and power, to reduce the carbon intensity of the energy supplied to the development. The third stage, Be Green, requires the use of renewable energy technologies to offset any remaining carbon emissions.
The London Plan requires that new residential developments achieve a minimum thirty-five per cent reduction in regulated carbon emissions compared with a Part L-compliant notional building, and many London boroughs have adopted more demanding local targets of up to fifty per cent. The energy statement for a London development must demonstrate, using BRUKL output documents from the SAP or SBEM assessment, that the proposed scheme achieves the applicable reduction target at each stage of the energy hierarchy, and must quantify the residual carbon emissions after each stage so that the planning officer can verify compliance.
SES is experienced in preparing London Plan energy statements for all development types and scales, from small residential schemes in outer boroughs to large mixed-use developments in the City and inner London. We are familiar with the expectations of planning officers in all London boroughs and can advise on the most cost-effective route to compliance with the applicable carbon reduction target before the design is finalised.
Energy Statements Outside London
Outside London, the requirement for an energy statement and the specific content required depend on the policies adopted by the relevant local planning authority. Many LPAs outside London have adopted local carbon reduction targets or renewable energy requirements that go beyond the requirements of Part L, and these must be addressed in the energy statement submitted with the planning application. Common requirements include a minimum percentage of energy from renewable sources, compliance with a local carbon reduction target expressed as a percentage above Part L, or a requirement to demonstrate that the development has been assessed against the BREEAM or Code for Sustainable Homes standards.
SES monitors planning policy across all local planning authorities in England and Wales and is familiar with the specific energy and sustainability policies that apply in each area. If you are unsure what is required for your development, contact us with the planning authority name and a brief description of the scheme and we will advise you on the scope of the energy statement required and the data we will need to prepare it.
Renewable Energy and Low-Carbon Technology Advice
A significant part of the work involved in preparing an energy statement for a development that is required to achieve a specific carbon reduction target is the selection and sizing of the renewable energy or low-carbon technologies that will contribute to that target. SES can advise on the relative cost-effectiveness of different technologies, solar PV, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and district heating connections, and model their contribution to the carbon reduction target using the appropriate SAP or SBEM methodology.
The cost implications of different technology choices can vary enormously. A PV array that could cost approximately £5,000 per dwelling to install may contribute a fifteen per cent carbon reduction in the SAP calculation, while the same expenditure on improved fabric insulation might contribute only five percent. Understanding these trade-offs at an early design stage allows developers to make informed decisions about where to invest the energy budget, and can result in significant cost savings relative to a design that has evolved without structured energy performance analysis.
SES are a multi-disciplined environmental consultancy with a proven track record of providing high quality.
How Much Does an Energy Statement Cost?
The cost of an energy statement depends on the size and complexity of the development, the policy requirements that need to be addressed, the level of modelling required, and whether SAP or SBEM calculations are being prepared as part of the same instruction. For a straightforward residential development in a non-London authority requiring a basic Part L compliance demonstration, the cost for an energy statement starts from £1200 VAT. For a London development subject to London Plan Policy SI2, or a larger mixed-use scheme requiring detailed BRUKL output and renewable energy modelling, costs will be higher and are quoted on a project-specific basis.
The cost of an inadequate energy statement, one that does not address the planning policy requirements fully, triggers requests for additional information, leads to unwanted planning conditions, or delays the planning decision, is typically far greater than the cost of a well-prepared one. Investing in a thorough energy statement from a team that understands planning policy as well as energy technology is the commercially sensible approach.
Contact Our Energy Statement Team
Call SES on 01279873380 to discuss your development. Please provide the planning authority, the site address or planning reference, and a brief description of the scheme, and we will advise on the scope of the energy statement required and provide a quotation within twenty-four hours.
