MP Peter Ainsworth’s Green Bill passed its second reading in Parliament earlier today.

The former DEFRA shadow secretary’s bill aims to remove the need for planning permission for renewable installations for domestic premises and exempt renewable installations from council tax increases.

Speaking exclusively to BSD earlier today, Ainsworth described the outcome of the reading as a “victory for common sense.”

He also revealed that he and Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) minister Mike O’Brien recently had a string of successful meetings regarding the bill.

Ainsworth did suggest that the government was reluctant to accept the council tax exemption.

The bill will now go to committee and then onto the Lords. If passed the bill could be on the statute books as soon as October.

BSD interviewed the Conservative MP on his Green Bill in May. Click here to read the article.

Source

Building Sustainable Design