Planning Energy Statements

Low Carbon Box have significant experience in Planning Energy and Sustainability Statements to help support your planning application or discharge planning conditions.

5 Key Stages of quality and value offering:

Planning Energy Statements

If you are looking to submit a planning application, then there is a good chance it will need a Planning Energy Statement. Many local planning authorities require one to demonstrate how the proposed development meets their planning policy and may include reducing energy demand and carbon emissions and possibly use renewable energy.

Low Carbon Box have supported a wide range of schemes with planning Energy Statements frons ingle houses to commercial developments. We also provide energy statements even if the planning authority do not request one as this can help the planning process.

We have almost 30 years experience in architectural technology and backed up with an MSc in Energy & Sustainable Building Design. We provide a simple and proven service, whatever your requirements and knowledge.

Understanding Planning Energy Statements Commonly Asked Questions

Who needs a Planning Energy Statement?

It is worth checking with the Architect or Local Planning Authority as to what their planning policy asks for. Some planning policy’s typically ask for 10% reduction in carbon emissions, but many are asking for 35%+ reduction to demonstrate the development is sustainable.

If you have a bespoke design and need to convince the planning authority that your scheme is viable, then it helps to provide a supporting energy & sustainability statement to showcase the energy efficiency and how your development reduces the impact on the environment to improve chances of planning permission.

The standards are generally an improvement over Part L1A and Part L2A of the Building Regulations.

What is a Planning Energy Statement?

The Planning Energy statement demonstrates the energy and sustainability credentials of the proposed development. They can include some of the following items (each planning authority requirement varies):

Reducing carbon emissions
Reducing energy demand
Generating on-site renewable energy
Using materials that have a low environmental impact
Reducing site waste
Reducing surface water run-off
Improving health and well-being.

There are other factors that may be included and the above are just examples as some planning authorities do not require an energy statement.

The energy efficiency and carbon emissions are generally determined by an energy assessment by an accredited assessor (Low Carbon box are accredited).

Using a series of assessments we can determine the overall energy performance and how this meets planning policy based on improvements to the design and specification.

How do you aim to provide a compliant Planning Energy Statement?

Carry out some initial energy assessments and set the benchmark for achieving standard Part 1LA or Part L2A of Building Regulations.

Determine the simplest routes for lowering energy demand and carbon emissions without adding renewable energy. This could be through improved insulation levels or better energy efficiency from boilers and fans.

Aim to achieve the target on a robust basis that can be delivered on site within budget.

There may be a requirement for Renewable Energy. Consider the use of the site and how the renewable energy will benefit the future occupants.

Refer to the policy to make it easy for the Planning Officer to assess the information provided and how this clearly complies with their energy and sustainability policy.

Low Carbon Box provide this full service in a report with a summary outlining the key features and can be used as a performance specification to help inform detail design once planning permission has been obtained.

How can Low Carbon Box help?

Low Carbon Box have carried out several planning energy statements including Paragraph 79 (formally Paragraph 55) energy statements with a very high success rate.

We have carried out energy statements in London, Lambeth, Chingford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Bedford, Birmingham, Kettering, Corby, Leicester, Watford, Chesterfield, Derby, Bristol, Norwich, Hownslow, Henlow, Wednesbury and more.

Our lead assessor is an on-construction domestic energy assessor (accredited with Elmhurst Energy) with an MSc in Energy & Sustainable Building Design and over 20 years experience in Architecture. Our advice and service is geared around providing solutions for our clients, helping them achieve their goals and input our significant experience to make the process easy, whilst using materials and systems that are readily available.