Written evidence submitted by Marloes & St Brides Community Coucil (REW0034)

Marloes & St Brides Community Council only wishes to respond to the Committee’s Question 2, as follows:

Committee Question 2: How should the UK and Welsh Governments work together to support the development of renewable energy projects in Wales?

1. We propose that throughout Wales, including in National Parks, policies should be rewritten to ensure that all new or refurbished buildings generate as much as possible of their own solar electricity.  Thus
   - homes or business premises being re-roofed would be required to have solar PV fitted to east/south/west facing roofs;
   - it should be a condition of being granted planning permission that homes or business premises being refurbished or extended must have solar PV fitted to E/S/W facing roofs;
   - it should be a condition of being granted planning permission that new-build homes or business premises must have solar PV fitted to E/S/W facing roofs, plus a power supply capable of supporting heat pump heating plus electric car charging.
    
2. We propose that for the whole of Wales, including National Parks, permitted development rights for renewable energy generation should be reviewed.  This is necessary because
   - there are at present anomalies which make no sense, for example permitted development allows a 30m2 carport with a solar roof, but only a 9m2 free standing solar PV array;
   - in view of the Climate Emergency and Welsh Government net zero carbon targets, it surely makes sense to expand permitted development rights for renewable energy so that any householder or business owner can install enough renewable energy generating equipment to make themselves self-sufficient without having to obtain planning permission.

February 2021