Regional Strategic Policy for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Development

In plan-making and decision-taking, planning authorities must give appropriate weight to climate considerations (including the target to generate 80% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030) and to supporting efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity. Planning authorities must help facilitate delivery of the necessary increase in appropriate renewable and low carbon energy developments (electricity and heat) so that the contribution of this sector to the transition to a net zero energy is optimised. This requires careful balancing of the local impacts with the wider environmental, economic, and social benefits. Moratoria on planning applications whilst LDPs are being prepared or updated are not appropriate.