Comment

Draft Bourn Airfield Supplementary Planning Document - June 2019

Representation ID: 168329

Received: 29/07/2019

Respondent: Countryside Properties

Agent: Andrew Martin Associates

Representation Summary:

5E - SITE WIDE ENERGY STRATEGY

First paragraph - while Countryside supports use of on-site renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions the wording of this section inconsistent with Policy CC/3 with regard to reduced emissions not onsite energy, across development as a whole. Recommend paragraph is reworded to; 'the new village aspires to be an exemplar and developers should explore, on a site-wide basis, opportunities to incorporate on-site renewable energy low carbon energy generation with a view to exceeding the baseline requirement for a 10% reduction in anticipated carbon emissions through the installation of an integrated system on homes and non-residential buildings or site wide solutions as set out in Policy CC/3'.

Paragraph 3 requires site wide energy solutions including CHP in high density parts of the site should be explored, and includes reference to 'high energy users' such as schools. Ongoing decarbonisation of electricity network. Predicted national grid electricity emissions factor will soon fall below gas. Building Regulations to include more accurate emissions factors, this will favour electricity based heating systems. Will remove carbon benefit of gas based CHP systems making them unfeasible.

Development of heat networks requires a critical mass of heat requirements. Low energy homes, beyond Building Regulations, reduces heat density. Occupational hours of schools mean these buildings are not generally considered in practice to be high energy users. With removal of gas fired CHP as a suitable technology, currently no proven large scale technologies that are commercially and technically viable replacements. Recommend text amended: 'Site-wide energy solutions and/ or the deployment of energy networks should be considered and implemented where feasible and viable.'