The CHPA, which represents community heating (district heating), welcomed Housing Minster Grant Shapps announcement today to establish a community energy fund, to enable new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. This would allow developers to make payments to the local authority to support local energy schemes, “such as a local district heating scheme”.
Ian Manders, Deputy Director of the CHPA, said
“Grant Shapps’ statement brings widespread low-carbon local energy provision closer to reality. A community energy fund, with the CIL and private investment, should help provide much of the finance for good quality community heating schemes. These can cut carbon emissions and heating bills for not only for new development, but also existing buildings nearby.”
“Builders face a daunting task if they have to provide the energy needs of a new development from on-site technologies. Most developers welcome being able to connect to a community energy scheme, even if it means making a financial contribution.”
The CHPA also welcomed the Minister’s announcement of continued funding for the Zero Carbon Hub. Manders concluded:
“The Hub has proved to Government that it can provide practical solutions to achieving zero-carbon new development.”