Land
UK Judge: Green home design is secondary to planning rules
A green campaigner’s plans to develop eco-friendly houses powered only by the sun and wind have been thrown out by the High Court.
A judge rejected Stephen Scrivens’ latest bid for planning consent to create his blueprint for houses of the future.
Mr Scrivens’ plans to build a self-sufficient house at Longberry Farm, Bethersden, where he lives, had already been rejected by Ashford Borough Council and two government planning inspectors.
In a test case ruling, Mr Justice Collins said that, despite a European directive setting a target for all new homes to be “nearly zero-energy” by December 31, 2020, energy considerations did not constitute a “trump card” when it came to planning consent.…
November 28, 2013
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