Green standard reduced to allow building

Planning committee members in Perth agreed to bring down the carbon emission standard that future homes at Bertha Park must reach because “the technology wasn’t there yet”to make the new builds reach the top level of eco effectiveness by 2020.

A paper was brought before committee, applying to modify a condition of sustainable construction that had been part of the original 2016 planning permission for the first phase of the 3000 unit housing scheme.

In order to be occupied, by 2020 the 1060 properties of phase one had to be built to a‘gold’standard, referring to the maximum energy efficiency.

But planning officers said this was currently looking impossible because of the unavailability of several technologies which would be needed to make reaching this target feasible by 2020.

And so to avoid“a hold up”in getting homes built, the planning condition should be altered to allow a lower sustainability threshold.

The 28 houses Springfield had built so far, with a further 117 in construction, were only at a ‘silver active’standard for CO2 emissions, with‘bronze’being the minimum carbon reduction measures required by building standards.The paper stated:“The applicant has identified a commitment to continue to pursue more carbon reduction measures as they become technically and economically feasible.”

Cllr Eric Drysdale said:“Agreeing to this would appear to be the council taking a step backwards in the face of a climate emergency declared in this country.”

Cllr Richard Watters said:“We should not decide this today. It seems to me we’re reducing that standards set five years ago by this committee.”

Convener Roz McCall called for the motion to be agreed, which it was by six votes to five. She said:“This is about the removal of a condition holding up the development.There is the potential to move up to a gold standard, just not by 2020.”