Policy 5.6 Decentralised energy in development proposals

Planning decisions

A Development proposals should evaluate the feasibility of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, and where a new CHP system is appropriate also examine opportunities to extend the system beyond the site boundary to adjacent sites.

B Major development proposals should select energy systems in accordance with the following hierarchy:

1. Connection to existing heating or cooling networks;
2. Site wide CHP network;
3. Communal heating and cooling;

C Potential opportunities to meet the first priority in this hierarchy are outlined in the London Heat Map tool. Where future network opportunities are identified, proposals should be designed to connect to these networks.

5.37 Development proposals should seek to connect to existing or planned DE networks. Linking a new development to an existing CHP system may be the most resource efficient option, allowing more effective use to be made of heat, power and cooling. If it is not possible to link to an existing system, the feasibility of CHP needs to be considered on a site-wide basis connecting different uses and/or group of buildings or an individual building. Investment in heat and cooling distribution infrastructure should be considered in all developments. CHP systems must be designed to run efficiently and be optimally sized to maximise carbon dioxide savings.

5.38 Opportunities to incorporate energy from waste or, where technically feasible, renewable energy should be investigated. However, the design of such systems should also seek to minimise impacts on air quality (see Policy 7.14). Where a district CHP system provides part of a development’s power and/or heating and/or cooling demand, suitable renewable energy technologies should be considered in addition, in accordance with Policy 5.7 and the Mayor’s energy hierarchy. In this area of policy, as all others, feasibility includes questions of financial and technical viability. There are recognised ways of identifying and assessing these. These will ensure that requirements are not imposed on the development that could lead to uneconomic costs on occupiers.