Our latest research with the Royal Town Planning Institute explores how effectively local energy planning and spatial planning are working together to advance net zero projects. The findings reveal significant challenges and missed opportunities for local authorities trying to deliver clean energy and heat in alignment with CP30. This paper recommends a series of actions for central government that would enable better integration and unlock more efficient decision making at the local level.
As the UK aims to meet legally binding net zero targets, local authorities play a vital role in bringing these projects forward. Energy plans, such as Local Area Energy Plans across the UK and Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies in Scotland, can provide a strategic framework for identifying opportunities for renewable energy generation and heat tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the local area.
However, the existence of these energy plans does not always lead to action or investment. Spatial planning can play a key role here because it aims to ensure that energy plans are effectively integrated into the broader landscape of local development. But for this to be achieved, there needs to be alignment between the two.
By aligning energy planning with spatial planning, local authorities can facilitate the timely and efficient deployment of energy projects, reducing delays, mitigating opposition and ensuring that energy developments reflect local spatial priorities. There is currently no clear support in place to help local authorities achieve this integration, resulting in limited examples of where an energy plan has informed local plan development.
This lack of integration has real implications for how quickly and effectively we can build the projects needed to meet CP30 and beyond.
The RTPI’s ‘Spatial Approaches to Local Energy Planning’ paper aims to help planners and energy professionals navigate the evolving energy policy and planning regimes. As part of this, Regen conducted extensive research that reveals significant challenges and missed opportunities for local authorities trying to deliver clean energy and heat. Our chapter on integrating energy and spatial planning recommends a series of actions for central government that would enable better integration and unlock more efficient decision making at the local level.
Recommendation: The UK government (in England) should strengthen the requirement for local plans to be net zero compliant, ensuring that a) net zero compliance is a statutory requirement in all local plans; b) clear, enforceable criteria define what a ‘net zero compliant’ plan entails; and c) support is provided to local authorities to achieve this.
Recommendation: The UK government and devolved administrations should issue guidance clarifying a) the respective roles and interactions of spatial planning and energy planning and b) best practices for integrating energy planning into local planning policies.
Recommendation: The UK government and devolved administrations should provide guidance on standardising data outputs from energy planning to ensure that data is provided in accessible and usable tools, and that local authorities are provided with clear instructions or support for its use.
Recommendation: The UK government and devolved administrations should address resourcing challenges by providing more funding and support to increasing local authority resourcing.
Recommendation: The UK government and devolved administrations should fund training programmes for local planning authorities to improve knowledge on a) the overall energy system as well as technology-specific requirements; and b) best practices for integrating energy planning into local plans.
While local authorities are unlikely to be able to overcome these major obstacles without central government action, there are two challenges that can be addressed at the local level.
Firstly, to combat missed opportunities arising from planners and energy teams working in isolation, local authorities should establish formal governance structures to integrate planning and energy teams. Additionally, when commissioning energy plans from external consultants, clear contractual expectations should be set that require meaningful involvement of local communities, consistent data outputs, and the upskilling of local authority teams to be able to use that data to inform spatial planning.
With much attention currently on planning reform to achieve CP30, it’s vital that policymakers understand the strategic importance of aligning energy and spatial planning. With the first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan due next year, it’s imperative that the lack of integration seen at the local level is not repeated at the national level.
Regen will continue to focus on this critical area, and to advocate for a planning system that is both efficient and representative of local preferences. To speak to us about supporting this work, or to join our planning working group, please contact Rebecca Windemer.
To read the full suite of ‘Spatial Approaches to Local Energy Planning’ resources on the RTPI website click here.
To read our chapter ‘Integrating spatial planning and energy planning’, click here.
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