A report by the Interim Director of Corporate Services set out the main findings of two studies on the capacity for producing low carbon and renewable energy in the North West and in the Merseyside sub-region. The regional study suggested that almost a third of the demand for electricity could come from onshore and offshore renewable energy resources by 2020 and concluded that micro-generation was likely to be the most significant source of renewable energy for Merseyside. The sub-regional study identified the potential to accommodate a new district heating system at Wirral Waters and outlined a suggested approach for consistently promoting energy efficiency and low carbon development across the sub-region.

Councillor J Green informed the Cabinet that this would provide real opportunities to be at the cutting edge of some of the issues.  It was imperative that these opportunities were exploited by getting ahead and bringing this technology forward.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet recommends to Council that the findings of the North West Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Capacity and Deployment Study (September 2010) and the Liverpool City Region Renewable Energy Capacity Study (Stage 1 - December 2009 and Stage 2 - February 2011) be adopted as a material planning considerations in the determination of individual planning applications and be used to inform the content of future planning policy in the Council’s emerging Local Development Framework.