Councils click into the future of planning
In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
Two-thirds of renewables projects fail to pass planning stage
25/06/2024 Almost two-thirds of applications for renewable energy projects failed to make it through the planning process in the past five years, research has revealed. |
Local authority pension schemes invest £330m in renewables
13/10/2023 Six local authority pension schemes have agreed a multi-million-pound deal to invest in renewables projects in the southwest. |
Place directors under ‘immense pressure’ publish strategic objectives
03/10/2023 Place directors have called for action on planning, infrastructure and the environment, including a financial regime enabling councils to build more affordable and ‘climate-ready’ homes. |
Iconic London landmarks to be powered by solar farm
19/12/2022 London landmarks including Tower Bridge and Hampstead Heath are set to be powered by renewable electricity from a new solar farm in Dorset. |
Climate change is a global issue that creates complex challenges for us all
21/07/2022 Climate change is a global issue that creates complex challenges for us all. It requires us to come together – both businesses and communities – to generate the innovative solutions that will help to bring about sustainable change. |
Inspiring local councils to take further action on net zero
13/04/2022 William Eichler finds out how councils are tackling the climate emergency, what success stories there have been, and what the barriers are to making progress. |
Kent council buys £14m solar farm
07/04/2022 A new 38-hectare solar farm in North Somerset has been acquired by Kent County Council (KCC) and LASER Energy. |
Solar panels to be installed on public buildings in Wales
05/04/2022 Public buildings in Wales are set to have solar panels installed as part of the Welsh government’s efforts to promote community owned renewable energy. |
Is wind power the next step in reducing CO2 emissions?
02/03/2022 Martin Barnes discusses how increasing pressure on the public sector to commit to net zero could be eased through the utilisation of small wind. |
Drive to decarbonise homes must ‘urgently move up the political agenda’
29/11/2021 The majority of MPs questioned in a recent YouGov survey do not believe Government policy goes far enough when it comes to the installation of renewable heating technologies for homes. |
Government unveils hydrogen transport hub ‘masterplan’
17/03/2021 The Government has unveiled the official ‘masterplan’ for the UK’s first-ever hydrogen transport hub. |
Local government pension fund to become net zero investor
10/03/2021 The Avon Pension Fund has committed to becoming a net zero investor by 2050 or earlier. |
Campaigners call for £10.6bn investment in ‘green apprenticeships’
02/03/2021 Environmental campaigners have called for the creation of 250,000 ‘green apprenticeships’ in areas such as renewable energy as part of the effort to address the twin crises of youth unemployment and climate change. |
Council plans England’s first sewage-powered heating scheme
26/02/2021 Plans to heat more than 2,000 homes using energy recovered from the sewage treatment process have been unveiled by Kingston Council. |
Council raises £1m through UK's first local government green bond
14/10/2020 The UK's first local government green bond has reached its target of raising £1m for West Berkshire District council five days early. |
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Manchester councils secure funding for clean energy project
23/09/2020 Funding to develop a clean energy project has been awarded to five councils in Greater Manchester that have declared a climate emergency. |
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Council launches UK’s first local government green bond
16/07/2020 The UK’s first local government green bond has been launched by West Berkshire Council. |
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Planning reforms to boost renewable energy
14/07/2020 Planning rules have been relaxed to make it easier to build large batteries to store renewable energy from solar and wind farms. |
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Councils predict one million new low-carbon jobs by 2050
11/06/2020 The low-carbon and renewable energy economy could create nearly 700,000 jobs by 2030 in England, increasing to 1.18 million by 2050, a new report has revealed. |
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Council considers community bond scheme
20/05/2020 Warrington Borough Council has put forward plans for a Community Municipal Bond (CMB) scheme to help deliver a new solar farm. |
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Government backs hydrogen energy plants
20/02/2020 The Government has announced £90m in funding to cut carbon emissions from homes and heavy industry. |
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All council buildings in Southampton to use 100% green electricity
01/10/2019 All commercial buildings owned by Southampton City Council will now be powered by renewable energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 7,000 tonnes a year. |
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Welsh councils to receive over £400,000 for electric charge points
26/09/2019 Nine local authorities in Wales are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding from Whitehall to install electric vehicle charge points. |
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Whitehall announces 12 renewable energy projects
20/09/2019 The Government has announced 12 new renewable energy projects which are set to deliver clean energy to seven million homes. |
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Council-owned solar farm generates £1.2m for frontline services
14/08/2019 One of the largest local authority owned solar farms in the UK has exceeded expectations and generated more than £1.5m of income in its third year – around £100,000 more than anticipated. |
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Corbyn promises £3.5bn for tidal power scheme
26/07/2019 The Labour Party has announced plans to invest £3.5bn into the Mersey Tidal Power Project as part of a ‘green industrial revolution’ to give the North an economic boost. |
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Communities urged to bid for share of Clean Energy Fund
19/06/2019 A £10m fund set up by the Government will encourage community groups to save on energy bills, cut emissions and make money by selling electricity back to the national grid. |
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Are local authorities the new power players in the energy market?
29/05/2019 Investment in renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular as a means to optimise existing assets. Clare Davey investigates this growing trend. |
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Local government’s role in renewable energy awareness
08/05/2019 Marcus Franck explains how councils can increase awareness of renewable energy and tackle the lack of clarity on facts surrounding the technology. |
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Council’s solar farm generates £1.3m in second year
07/08/2018 Forest Heath council’s solar farm has generated more than £1.3m of income, enabling the authority to plough over £370,000 back into council services. |
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UK can be run on 50% renewables by 2030, commission says
10/07/2018 Britain has a ‘golden opportunity’ to switch to renewable energy sources without increasing the cost to consumers, a national commission has revealed. |
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Welsh councils slam Swansea lagoon decision
26/06/2018 A Government decision to reject plans for the world's first tidal power lagoon in Cardiff has been slammed by local politicians of all parties including the Conservatives. |
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Swansea welcomes £200m offer for tidal lagoon
06/06/2018 Swansea Council has welcomed a £200m offer from the Welsh government to support its tidal lagoon project after Westminster suggested it did not offer value for money. |
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Councils spending at least £863m per year on energy with Big Six
20/04/2018 Local authorities are spending over £863m with the Big Six energy companies every year, according to new research. |
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Upgrading wind farms could bring £100m to communities, study says
27/03/2018 Updating wind farms would bring millions into local communities and put the UK on track to meet its climate change targets, climate scientists say. |
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Belfast CC calls for inquiry into ‘shambolic’ renewable heat incentive
04/01/2017 Belfast City Council has passed a motion calling on Whitehall to open a full public inquiry into the ‘shambolic’ renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme. |
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District buys solar farm for new revenue source
19/08/2016 Forest Heath District Council has purchased the largest local authority-owned solar farm in the UK, which will generate income of up to £700,000 per year. |
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Council solar bonds sell out one month early
03/06/2016 Council-issued solar bonds, designed to partially fund a solar farm in Swindon, have sold out a month earlier than expected. |
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Scottish councils sign shared services waste contract
20/05/2016 More than 90% of waste that would have gone into landfill sites will be recycled in a deal between five Scottish councils and a private sector company which will also generate energy. |
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Council pension funds invest £60m in renewables
20/10/2015 Local government pension funds in Greater Manchester and London have made a joint £60m investment in renewable energy projects. |
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Lancashire County Pension Fund invests in Portuguese wind assets
15/10/2015 Lancashire County Pension Fund (LCPF) has acquired a significant minority equity stake in EDF Energies Nouvelles’ Portuguese wind assets. |
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Municipal energy can produce big savings, says report
09/09/2015 Council energy policies focusing on renewable energy and greater efficiency could deliver big savings, according to a new think tank report. |
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UK’s first ‘energy positive’ house built in Wales
16/07/2015 Britain’s first ‘energy positive’ house has opened in Wales, deploying a unique combination of efficient design, power storage and insulation. |
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Sun to ‘lead circular economy’ after council’s record solar installation
03/06/2015 The sun’s rays are to power waste recycling at a London borough when a record 2,500 panels are installed at a council facility. |
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Biomass industry calls for better regulation
26/05/2015 Paul Clark explains why an industry code of practice would protect local authorities from unscrupulous suppliers |
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Communities will get power to block wind farms
18/05/2015 Communities will be given the power to block all future onshore wind farms under new Government measures, the new energy secretary has announced. |
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Council applauds ‘landmark’ approval for world’s biggest offshore wind farm
18/02/2015 A Humber council has welcomed government consent for the world’s biggest offshore wind-farm near the Yorkshire coast. |
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Council first to sign energy investment deal with Chinese firm
20/01/2015 Peterborough City Council has become the first local authority in the UK to sign an investment partnership with a Chinese company to deliver energy efficiency projects throughout the city. |
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Community energy schemes receive £10m boost
13/11/2014 A £10m fund has been launched to help communities across England set up their own renewable energy schemes. |
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Climate change goals wil be missed, warns charity
22/10/2014 The Government will fail to meet climate change targets unless it ramps up efforts to create warm, affordable low-carbon homes, campaigners have warned. |
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£300m renewable energy scheme unveiled
02/10/2014 The Government has released details of a £300m fund to support renewable electricity projects. |
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£20m local energy fund opens to councils and communities
19/08/2014 A £20m regional energy fund has been opened to Scotland's councils and community groups, in a bid to reshape the delivery of power. |
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Social bonds to invest £60m in community solar projects
09/07/2014 Up to 8,000 school, council and community buildings are set to get solar panels via a partnership between two social enterprises and British Gas. |
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Renewable contracts worth billions may not protect consumer interests according to Audit Office
27/06/2014 A new report from the National Audit Office claims contracts worth £16.6bn awarded to eight renewable generation projects are at risk of delay and may increase costs to the public. |
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Social housing providers urged to avoid ‘quick fix’ on heat pumps
18/06/2014 Social housing providers are failing to install ground source heat pumps even though they ‘consistently out-perform' air source models, according to Calorex Heat Pumps. |
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Consent given for £65m wind farm
20/05/2014 A £65m wind farm, which will power the equivalent of 24,000 homes, has been given the go ahead in Dumfries and Galloway. |
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Financing completed for solar parks project
20/05/2014 The £27m financing for three solar parks has been completed in South West England by Ingenious Clean Energy. |
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Community energy projects need better policy support says report
12/05/2014 Community-led energy projects are being held back by a lack of resources and support from current policies, according to a new report. |
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Local people urged to take control of their power supply
28/04/2014 Local community groups are being encouraged to sell energy to local residents and generate their own power through the launch of a new technology platform. |
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Universities receive funding for carbon reduction projects
28/04/2014 Three Scottish universities will receive £20m funding to help develop projects into reducing carbon emissions. |
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Renewable projects provide 8,500 green jobs boost
23/04/2014 The government has given the go-ahead to eight renewable electricity projects that are expected to support up to 8,500 new jobs. |
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Pickles extends wind farm powers
11/04/2014 Environmental and energy groups have condemned Eric Pickles after it was revealed the communities secretary has extended his power to call in wind farm proposals. |
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Government outlines its solar strategy
04/04/2014 Car parks and Government buildings could be soon turned into 'solar hubs' as part of efforts to boost PV rollout, ministers have outlined. |
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Key Learnings from 2013
08/01/2014 What did the housing and energy markets learn in 2013 and what can we expect from the year ahead? |
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Wind turbine developers told to consult communities
18/11/2013 Wind turbine developers will be required to consult local communities under new measures being put before Parliament. |
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East Lindsey Council urges Pickles not to overturn wind farm decisions
23/10/2013 East Lindsey District Council has urged communities secretary Eric Pickles not to overturn its decision to reject plans for wind farms. |
