We are making sure all new developments are designed and built in a way that helps reduce carbon emissions and ensures they are well adapted to operate under future climate change scenarios. We have set out a policy in The London Plan to this end.

Minimising Carbon Dioxide Emissions in New build developments

Policy 5.2 of the London Plan states that development proposals should make the fullest contribution to minimising carbon dioxide emissions in accordance with the following energy hierarchy:

1. Be lean: use less energy
2. Be clean: supply energy efficiently
3. Be green: use renewable energy

The Mayor will work with boroughs and developers to ensure that major developments meet the targets in Policy 5.2 for carbon dioxide emissions reduction in new buildings.

Major development proposals are required to include a detailed energy assessment to demonstrate how the targets for carbon dioxide emissions reduction are to be met within the framework of the energy hierarchy.

In order to demonstrate the efficacy of the Mayor’s London Plan energy policies, the Mayor initiated an annual review of CO2 savings, starting in 2010. This was preceded by earlier studies undertaken by London South Bank University. See PDF and RTF of full 2009 and 2010 report below.

2011 Monitoring report

An analysis of the energy assessments relating to all stage II planning applications determined from 1 January to 31 December 2011 has been undertaken to establish the projected CO2 savings and infrastructure commitments that have been secured. See PDF and RTF of full report below.

Related documents

View the 2011 Monitoring Report (PDF opens in new window)

View the 2011 Monitoring Report (RTF)

View the 2010/2011 Monitoring Report (PDF opens in new window)

View the 2009 Monitoring Report (PDF opens in new window)

Related links

View the Energy Planning Guidance for Developers