The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy allows renewable and low carbon energy schemes, including micro-renewables such as small wind turbines, micro-hydro and solar panels, and decentralised energy like combined heat and power. Support depends on an assessment of impacts on residential and workplace amenity, visual and landscape character, air and water quality, the natural, built and historic environment, biodiversity, public access to the countryside, and the openness of the Green Belt. The council will consider both individual and cumulative impacts of such applications.
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The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
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logies.
CNZ1 - Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Developments
1) Proposals for renewable energy developments, micro-renewables (such
as, but not limited to, micro-wind turbines, micro-hydro and solar panels),
or low and zero carbon and decentralised energy (such as, but not limited
to Combined Heat and Power systems) may be supported subject to
assessment of potential impacts on:
a) Residential/workplace amenity;
b) The visual amenity of the local area, including landscape
character;
c) Local natural resources, including air and water quality;
d) The natural, built and historic environments;
e) Biodiversity;
f) Public access to the countryside;
g) The openness and visual amenity of the Green Belt;
h) Other site constraints.
2) The council will take into account the individual and cumulative impacts of
applications for renewable energy developments on the above.
Reasoned Justification:
8.2 The council is keen to support the transition to a low carbon future and that the Local
Plan should help to contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and
support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure.
8.3 Hertfordshire as a whole has the technical potential to achieve a significant amount
of renewable energy production by various means including Biomass, dedicated
Combined Heat and Power facilities, Bio-diesel and Bio-ethanol. Given the district’s
watercourses, there may also be opportunities for micro-hydro power generation.
8.4 Specific areas suitable for large -scale renewable and low or zero carbon and
decentralised energy have not been identified. However, the council encourages
applicants to integrate the use of renewable energy technologies into all proposals
and supports the use of micro -renewables subject to an assessment of potential
impacts.
Net Zero Operational Carbon in New Build Residential Development
8.5 Operational carbon is an area where policy can ensure the provision of buildings that
are fit for the future, both in terms of reduced energy consumption and holistic
integration of design decisions that address climate adaptation. It is essential that
housing developers prioritise these metrics and subsequent total energy
consumption to best ensure that any on -site renewable energy can feasibly match
total regulated energy use. If the energy use of a residential building is not mitigated
in the first instance, on site renewable energy generation