Training for the planning community

Our training has helped thousands of local councillors, planning officers and planning inspectors build their knowledge and understanding of renewable energy.

CSE is particularly experienced and well placed to work in this complex and, sometimes, contentious area.

With qualified planners, policy experts and technical specialists among our staff, we can provide training on: national policy and legislation; developing evidence-based policies; assessing resources and constraints; micro-renewable energy technologies; advanced planning for wind power; biomass; low carbon buildings and heritage; and engaging communities in low carbon planning.

Training for planners in the issues surrounding biomass developments, Taunton, 2010

Our work in this sector began  in 2004 with the Department of Trade and Industry‘s ‘It’s Only Natural’ programme, [link to come] designed to bring the planning community up to speed with the increasing number of applications being lodged for wind farms and other large renewable energy developments. The programme was later taken over by the departments of Energy and Climate Change and Communities and Local Government.

By the end of 2009 we’d delivered some 100 workshops to more than 2,500 local councillors, planning officers and planning inspectors. These covered renewable energy technologies (wind, biomass, and micro-renewables), national energy policy and the formulation of an evidence base, and community engagement in the planning process.

In 2006 CSE conceived and created an online resource bank where planning officers, councillors or project developers can find material likely to be useful in assessing or drawing up large-scale renewable developments. See www.planningrenewables.org.uk.

Funding for the site finished in 2010, but we continue to maintain it, believing that it provides a valuable service. The large numbers of people continuing to use the site suggest we are not alone in this belief.

Through PlanLoCaL we continue to work with the planning community with a focus on initiatives around heritage, community engagement in planning and Renewable Energy Action Areas. We have also been working with Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to help them embed low carbon thinking in their community-led planning tool.

CSE has developed the PlanLoCaL model to help communities and planners to think about spatial planning and the role of a mix of energy sources in creating a low carbon future. The model can be used as part of our training sessions or hired for events.

Clients and funders of our training for planners include:

Bath & North East Somerset Council  |  Bristol City Council  |  Wiltshire County Council  |  Wealden District Council  |  Planning Inspectorate  |  Dept of Energy and Climate Change  |  Dept for Communities and Local Government