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ID sylw: 106650

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Warwickshire Property and Development Group

Asiant : Framptons

Whilst it is recognised that it is relatively easy to integrate new development with renewable energy sources like solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage from the outset, challenges still exist regarding grid connection, regulatory frameworks, and potentially complex system design depending on the chosen decentralized energy approach.
We therefore question the requirement in Draft Policy-F that all “major development” in South Warwickshire will be required to demonstrate a thermal masterplanning approach to maximise energy efficiency opportunities for the use of decentralised energy systems.
No information is provided in the draft policy, or supporting justification, as to what constitutes “major development” in this context .If “major development” represents residential developments of 10 or more dwellings, we consider the requirement to be unnecessarily burdensome for many developments. We, therefore, would like to see clarification provided in the Pre-Submission SWLP on what, in this context, is meant by “major development” i.e. a threshold in terms of unit numbers or floorspace.
The policy should also acknowledge that there might occasions where an existing system might be available but does not have enough capacity to accommodate the energy needs of planned new development. Furthermore, if the draft policy is to be taken forward into the Pre-Submission SWLP, to avoid any unnecessary ambiguity the policy should, as per the supporting justification, make clear that that detailed energy statements will be required, to include potential for connection to decentralised energy systems.