News analysis Political parties

Labour wants minimum design standards for all new government funded buildings.

Planning

The Tories say they would aim to speed up local planning decisions, limit appeals against these and abolish the power of planning inspectors to rewrite local plans. Labour, in government, has already published its plans to ‘integrate’ the planning process with its plans for zero carbon homes and encouraging the use of renewables. The Lib Dems would abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission, focusing instead on local decision-making.

Reduction Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) introduced by Labour. This would be done by requiring companies and government departments to report on their energy use and set targets for reducing it.

Energy generation

The Lib Dems say that, under the proposed ‘Eco Cash-Back’ scheme, excess energy produced from micro-generation – which presumably refers to items such as wind turbines and solar panels – would be able to be sold to the national grid. Both Labour and Tories also have a commitment to introduce ‘feed-in tariffs’ in a similar way. All three parties also have

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targets for the roll-out of smart meters for properties. Labour wants them in all homes by 2020. They promote the idea of dynamic ‘smart grids’ that can match electricity supply with demand to increase efficiency and cut waste, as well as promoting the use of

new nuclear power stations – so long as they receive no public subsidy – and to creating four plants for carbon capture and storage. They would give local authorities the power to establish new district heating networks using low-carbon fuels.

renewables. The Lib Dems support the development of a European electricity ‘supergrid’ that would operate in the same way. When it comes to nuclear

energy, the Lib Dems diverge from the other two parties in opposing the development of new power stations. ‘Based on the evidence, nuclear is a far more expensive way of reducing carbon emissions than promoting energy conservation and renewable energy,’ their manifesto asserts. Labour says it is ‘planning for’ about 40 per cent of electricity generation to come from low- carbon sources by 2020, including nuclear. Fifteen per cent would be from renewables. The Tories are committed to

Bureaucracy and finance

The Tories’ former call for a ‘bonfire of the quangos’ would mean, in practice, that such bodies that do not perform a technical, politically-impartial or independent research function would be scrapped, according to the manifesto. All three parties are committed to setting up a ‘green’ investment bank aimed at directing private sector funds towards low-carbon initiatives.

Training and apprentices

The Tories plan to create 20,000 extra young apprenticeships and allow schools to offer workplace training. It would also set up ‘service academies’ to offer pre-employment training for unemployed people. Labour would offer up to

70,000 advanced apprenticeships a year and ‘skills accounts’ for workers to upgrade their skills. The Lib Dems would offer up to 800,000 places for unemployed young people, who would be paid £55 a week for up to three months.

Green party proposals

As you’d expect, the Greens’ manifesto has a heavy emphasis on energy efficiency. The Greens

Industry reaction

Paul King, UK Green Building Council:

‘[The Tories’] commitment to a green infrastructure bank sends an important signal, though it should focus on funding energy efficiency and low-carbon infrastructure as much as new technology start-ups.’

Tom Foulkes, Institution of Civil Engineers:

‘The UK will need to invest £40bn to £50bn per annum in infrastructure, so a starting fund [in Labour’s proposed green investment bank] of just £2bn falls well short of what will be required.’

Liz Peace, British Property Federation:

‘It is one thing [Labour] pledging 50,000 new affordable homes when elsewhere the manifesto says it will “make savings in regeneration funding”.’

want all domestic and public sector buildings to be insulated to a high standard. They also want high environmental standards for all new buildings. The Greens say they would

provide incentives for combined heat and power schemes and for district heating, and would support the growth of renewable energy generation. Support would be provided for companies creating jobs in this sector. They would also oppose new

nuclear power stations, and they want all existing ones to be decommissioned. l

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May 2010 CIBSE Journal

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