How can local planning ensure the benefits of renewables are delivered for local people? CSE investigated this question as part of our work for Mansfield District Council. While creating a renewables evidence base for their Local Plan, we highlighted how communities could be brought into the process. This will ensure local people benefit from any renewables development and puts them at the centre of the plan.

Mansfield District Council (MDC) is in the process of reviewing its Local Plan – a guide for future development. The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and Bioregional were appointed to conduct a Climate Change Study, providing a key part of the evidence base for the reviewed Local Plan.

CSE’s role in this project

CSE’s role was to assess the renewable energy and heat network potential of the area, and to review MDC’s policy CC1, which covers renewable and low-carbon generation.

Our findings showed potential for solar energy, particularly through rooftop installations, although opportunities for ground-mounted solar were more limited due to constraints across the district. These constraints also meant the potential for wind turbines was limited. We also found potential for heat networks, particularly in Warsop and Mansfield itself.

Our work was timely because a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was being consulted on during the project – the guidance that governs Local Plans and planning decisions. We suggested rewording policy CC1 in line with the proposed NPPF changes, introducing clauses that set out where renewable energy development would be supported, including contribution to community benefits.

Bringing the community along

The role of communities is emerging as a key concern in renewable energy development. Increasingly, it is recognised that communities should have more say about development in their area – and that they should benefit from hosting renewables.

Our Future Energy Landscapes programme, and our wider work supporting local authorities, provided a strong foundation for this. Building on that, we suggested how MDC might work with local communities and partner organisations to help them deliver renewable energy projects. We hope this will help capture the benefits for local people.

Want to bring your community along with your local plans?

CSE can help – get in touch with our research team.