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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Demand for 'green home' rebates | Demand for 'green home' rebates |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Households should receive council tax rebates to encourage them to install solar panels and wind turbines, an independent think tank claims. | Households should receive council tax rebates to encourage them to install solar panels and wind turbines, an independent think tank claims. |
| The New Local Government Network says planning laws should be relaxed to increase the take-up of green energy. | The New Local Government Network says planning laws should be relaxed to increase the take-up of green energy. |
| It also suggests local authorities could offer interest-free loans towards the cost of installation. | It also suggests local authorities could offer interest-free loans towards the cost of installation. |
| But the Campaign to Protect Rural England says precious landscapes must be safeguarded. | But the Campaign to Protect Rural England says precious landscapes must be safeguarded. |
| Currently the government offers a grant of up to 30% towards the cost of installing wind turbines or solar panels. | Currently the government offers a grant of up to 30% towards the cost of installing wind turbines or solar panels. |
| It has also been consulting on whether they should be permitted without planning permission where the impact on neighbours is minimal. | It has also been consulting on whether they should be permitted without planning permission where the impact on neighbours is minimal. |
| Incentives | Incentives |
| But the New Local Government Network report, Finding the Energy, says ministers need to be bolder by allowing councils to be even less restrictive where there is public support. | But the New Local Government Network report, Finding the Energy, says ministers need to be bolder by allowing councils to be even less restrictive where there is public support. |
| It is calling for local councillors to be able to consult with residents on whether to reduce the amount of planning permission required to create eco-friendly homes. | It is calling for local councillors to be able to consult with residents on whether to reduce the amount of planning permission required to create eco-friendly homes. |
| Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it Chris Leslie, New Local Government Network | Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it Chris Leslie, New Local Government Network |
| James Macgregor, author of the report, said: "Listening to the voices of local people in this way would ensure that residential amenity was protected as defined by residents. | James Macgregor, author of the report, said: "Listening to the voices of local people in this way would ensure that residential amenity was protected as defined by residents. |
| "Council tax rebates and capital loans for householders that install domestic microgeneration equipment would incentivise local people to engage in the process." | "Council tax rebates and capital loans for householders that install domestic microgeneration equipment would incentivise local people to engage in the process." |
| Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that planning laws should be changed. | Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that planning laws should be changed. |
| "The tests about whether, for instance, a wind turbine on somebody's house has a detrimental impact in a town should actually be left to the neighbourhood to decide themselves," he said. | "The tests about whether, for instance, a wind turbine on somebody's house has a detrimental impact in a town should actually be left to the neighbourhood to decide themselves," he said. |
| "Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it, rather than a Whitehall piece of legislation that won't necessarily fit local circumstances." | "Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it, rather than a Whitehall piece of legislation that won't necessarily fit local circumstances." |
| The Campaign to Protect Rural England says it has no objection to using the planning system to encourage domestic renewable energy generation. | The Campaign to Protect Rural England says it has no objection to using the planning system to encourage domestic renewable energy generation. |
| A spokesman added: "Energy efficiency measures in existing buildings, and an approach that encourages development of energy sources by local communities as a whole, are likely to be a cheaper and more effective method of reducing carbon emissions." |