Healey approves planning changes to focus on carbon reduction
09 Mar 2010
Housing and planning minister John Healey has given more power to councils to create energy efficient offices, homes and communities.
The government official unveiled a £10 million fund to help create eco towns alongside updating planning rules.
In the planning changes, three policies have been updated, meaning that councils have the most current targets on climate change and they can encourage the use of sustainable energy and creation of energy efficient offices.
Speaking about the amendments, Mr Healey said: "This signals real and radical momentum to change and to re-think how we design our towns and homes for the future."
He added that more needs to be done if the UK is to meet its "ambitious" low-carbon targets, saying that we need greener, renewable energy.
The planning minister has also recently approved changes to the system, which will save developers time and money to complete building projects, such as energy efficient offices.
