Energy statement

An energy statement is required for:

• all new residential units (including conversions)
• non-residential development (including change of use, conversions and extensions) with a floor area over 500m2

It will need to show how your development has been designed to reduce energy use, and will take into consideration:

• siting and location
• shelter planting
• internal layout of rooms
• insulation
• natural ventilation and lighting
• material usage (for example thermally efficient materials)
• construction techniques
• shared heat through party walls

Statements will predict the energy demand of a development using detailed calculations.

Alternatively, energy calculations are allowed using benchmark data from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers or the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges.

On-site renewable provision can be calculated using the correct percentage as written in CS2 of our Core Strategy. The lower the energy demand measured over a year, the lower the energy generation requirement for on-site renewables. Consult a qualified person to advise on meeting building regulations.

Statements need to explain why systems are suitable for the site and neighbouring land including:

• any impact on neighbours or the local environment
• if the chosen technology will work in the development’s location
• if the chosen technology is easy to use by occupants
• any perceived maintenance issues

When a system is unsuitable, other options need to be assessed. Where renewable needs cannot be met the statement will clearly explain why the target is not achievable. Any planning application failing to consider a range of options is likely to be refused.

Contact us early in the design process to talk about which systems are likely to be suitable. Thinking about systems after construction starts might reduce the suitability of some options due to ground works and other retrofitting.

When the delivery of on-site energy production will increase a build cost by more than 5%, it is considered to be an undue burden.

When this happens, a full testing of all available options is needed to show why they are not suitable. The cost of providing a renewable energy system needs to be given with an estimate of the total build cost (not including items like decontamination, landscaping, parking areas).

When an undue burden is shown, a smaller amount of renewable energy (that would not be an undue burden) still needs to be provided using decentralised, renewable, and low-carbon energy sources.

Building Regulations - Part L that covers the conservation of fuel and power is a separate requirement outside of the energy statement, and the needs of planning policy, and follows a separate process of approval. 

You may send information relating to building regulations (Part L) as part of your energy statement but this is not a requirement.

Outline planning proposals should include an energy statement. At the outline planning stage, this will need to show that it is workable to design and apply renewable energy systems to generate 10% to 15% of energy required. Benchmark figures can be used to estimate an energy demand for a development.

Statements should include consideration of large on-site energy generation methods like combined heat and power facilities. These methods are normally more efficient and an important part of developing a site. The larger a scheme is, the larger an energy system needs to be to make sure a development is as sustainable as possible.

We will not usually allow renewable/low-carbon energy to only serve part of a site. Each home should connect to a renewable or low-carbon energy source.

Where the final user is not known, use benchmark data to estimate the delivered energy needs.

If a proposal is for a range of uses, the energy benchmark data for the most demanding energy use (in terms of carbon) should be used.

For low-carbon decentralised or district heating facilities, an application needs to show the system’s capacity, siting and routing.

For further information on energy statements, please see the following guidelines. 

• National Planning Policy Framework - section 14
• Core Strategy - policy CS1 and CS2
• Creating sustainable buildings and places supplementary planning document
• Energy Saving Trust website
• Carbon Trust website
• Building Research Establishment website