A private member’s bill to strengthen the so-called ‘Merton Rule’, which allows councils to set quotas for renewable energy used in new developments, passed its second reading on Friday.
Michael Fallon MP’s Planning and Energy Bill was backed by 45 votes to nil on Friday afternoon. It will now go to committee before coming back to parliament on 9 May.
The bill would formally give councils the right to include quotas for on-site and near-site renewable energy in their development plans. Supporters of the bill believe the government is trying to water down the quotas, which have been adopted by more than 100 councils following the example of Merton, which adopted a 10% quota in 2003.
The government issued planning advice on Merton rules in December which says they must be ‘flexible’. It remains opposed to Fallon’s bill, which enjoys cross-party support and has the backing of three former environment ministers.
‘The whole point of the bill is to give councils statutory protection if they want to adopt Merton policies,’ said Fallon today. ‘The problem is the government is only giving guidance, and in two or three years time there may be different guidance.’
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