Fallon to propose Planning and Energy Bill

Having recently topped the Private Members' Bill ballot Michael Fallon MP has decided to use his slot to encourage renewable energy at a local level:

"I want to see councils leading the fight against climate change. This Bill enables them to reach beyond the minimum standards set by government. It encourages localism."

His Planning and Energy Bill will be introduced in the Commons tomorrow. It will enable local authorities to set renewable and low carbon energy targets for new development, reinforcing the "Merton rule" under which over 100 councils have followed the London Borough of Merton in setting onsite renewable energy targets for new housing.

John Gummer and Michael Jack have sponsored the Bill, as well as several non-Conservatives including former Energy Minister John Battle and LibDem leadership contender Chris Huhne.

Julian Brazier and Stephen Crabb will also have the opportunity to propose legislation in the near future.

Comments

[Z Lister]

I cannot believe that Michael Fallon, a committed free marketeer, has sold out to the green lobby. He must still have delusions that Cameron will appoint him a Shadow Minister. When John Gummer supports a PMB, you know it must be opposed.

How we miss Eric Forth! He knew how to deal with such nonsense.

[Derek]

So long as the bill stops at "enabling" and does not go on to "coercing" then I have no objection. The problem with all this is that it is going to lead to increased costs of building new homes, and as someone who does not accept that carbon dioxide is affecting the climate, I object to the cost of living being driven up, when the result will not have any affect on the climate. I am not alone and many eminent scientists agree with me. For plenty more information visit my website CLIMATE SCIENCE. I agree that saving energy makes sense, but it must only be done without incurring large cost increases.

[Derek]

The link above does not work so it should be http://climatescience.blogspot.com

[John F Aberdeen]

With reference to localism and local councils,, a big setback for that idea comes from the Aberdeenshire Councils obstinate and backward refusal of permission to Donald Trumps £1 billion + investment in a new golf course plus 950 houses plus 2 grand hotels, all to be sited a few miles North along the coast from Aberdeen. Unfortunately this development is taking place in Aberdeenshire because the city council were all in favour.
The council vote was tied at 7 for and 7 luddites against, the Libdem council leader Martin Ford himself a leading luddite (never flies, doesn,t have a car etc etc oh yes and a member of the RSPB) cast the deciding vote against Trumps plans, now Trump is being courted by Ireland.
The councils descision simply makes Scotland look like a backward, no hope, luddite, begging bowl grasping, pile of dung.
It doesnt take an economic genius to figure out that a £1 billion investment means thousands of jobs for this generation of people and future generations.
The RSPB claimed that seabirds and ducks nest at the site that Trump wants to use, but good heavens there are hundred miles of coast they could use,, Its not as if they need to move their furniture or the ducklings need to find a new school, I mean thats what god gave them wings for, to fly off to another nesting site.
There has been very angry response from Aberdeen council and most of Scotland (silence from big mouth Salmond though) to this stupid descision.
So the burning question is this, localism is fine however, when the council is made up of backward luddite people like the Lib Dems and others on Aberdenshire Council, who make a descision that may (unless overturned) wreck the hopes and aspirations of not only this generation but future generations, how can you design a system that stops this from happening.
One answer I guess is go and vote them out of office,,however thats in 3 years time and, by then, the damage is done and Trumps investment has gone to Ireland and others thinking of investing in Scotland have also been put off.
What is needed is for large projects eg. over £1 million with wider implications for neighbouring areas and the country to be taken out of the hands of a local council and be decided by, in this case, the Scottish parliament. As far as I know in Scotland this does not exist.

[Matt Wright]

Can the Scotiish parliament not "call in" an application. This happens in Wales with projects with major issues.