Sustainability planning requirements for new development and extensions

For new development

Policies contained in the Essex Urban Place Supplement, adopted 13 March 2007, and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy supplementary planning document, adopted 31 October 2007, require that new development in Uttlesford achieves these standards:

Sustainable construction - Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 (domestic), BREEAM 'very-good' (non-domestic) or equivalent

Renewable energy - 10% of a development's annual energy needs are met by on-site renewable or low-carbon technologies for new buildings with over 1000 sqm floor area or developments of more than five dwellings. This requirement increases to 100% for development sites (or combination of adjacent development sites) over 50ha.

For full details see the Sustainability standards for new development in Uttlesford April 2009 (PDF) [347KB] .
 

Energy efficiency planning condition for extensions

We require cost-effective energy efficiency improvements to be carried out on dwellings when they are extended. In this way, the extra energy that is used and carbon dioxide that is produced by the extension is compensated for by improvements elsewhere. As well as benefiting the environment, this requirement reduces energy bills and improves comfort.

Undertaking these measures at the time an extension is carried out can also save money on their installation.We are the first local authority in the United Kingdom to introduce a requirement of this kind.

More information about the range of energy efficiency measures possible can be found on the Planning Portal and Energy Saving Trust's (EST) website. 

A useful  homeowner's guide to building an energy efficient extension (PDF) [653KB]  has also been published by LABC.