Swindon Council has been nationally recognised as the first in the UK to use an innovative planning measure to encourage more low carbon energy generation.
The Local Development Orders (LDO), which will be discussed by the planning committee tomorrow, could eventually mean all Swindon’s housing will be powered by clean energy. 
Some 29 sites are being studied by the borough’s planning department, half of them in the town on sites such as supermarket car parks, motorway slip roads and rail embankments. The other half are within the surrounding rural area on low-grade agricultural land.
If adopted, a number of sites will be granted planning permission for 30 years. In addition, some smaller installations will also become “permitted development which means they do not need formal planning approval.
Renewable Energy Association (REA) chief executive Dr Nina Skorupska said: “Swindon Borough Council should to be praised and congratulated for leading the way in addressing the need to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
“More renewable energy in the UK means lower greenhouse gas emissions, less reliance on energy imports and more jobs.
“By speeding up the planning process for suitable sites, Swindon facilitate the roll-out for renewable energy in the right locations, which not only helps fight climate change but also creates local employment and an uplift in business rates. If adopted, Swindon would be a model for Councils across the country.”
The Low Carbon LDO forms part of the council’s strategy to meet the national target of 15% of all energy requirements coming from renewable energy by 2020. This is particularly important for Swindon owing to the energy intensive industries in the area. Despite being a pioneer in attracting solar farms, including two that provide electricity for Honda’s car plant, Swindon’s share of renewable energy in April 2014 was only 5%. It is hoped that the initiative will provide up to 200 MW of clean energy with 10% of that coming from micro generation.
The council has admitted that it faces “unique challenges” owing to limited brownfield land, housing needs, a large industrial base and an area of outstanding natural beauty that covers 28% of the borough.
It said: “Swindon is therefore reliant on sites in the countryside to deliver the bulk of its renewable energy generation capacity.”
