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Consternation over Merton Rule

Posted: 12/10/2007

Councillors are pitching one Government minister against another in an attempt to beat off a threat to the city's energy-saving housing programme. They are calling on the Environment Secretary to prevent the housing minister scrapping arrangements through which Milton Keynes and some 150 other councils can order that all new buildings supply 10 per cent of their power from renewable sources.

The council took on carbon-emission cutting policies under the so-called Merton Rule following promptings to local authorities by housing minister Yvette Cooper last year.

It now fears she is bowing to pressure from the building sector to ditch the rule because it is putting tight constraints on them.

As well as approaching the Environment Secretary, the council is also to campaign with other councils and a number of national organisations fearing a Government U-turn.

Council leader Isobel McCall said a letter she had just received from Ms Cooper on the issue was "very confusing" and "neither confirms nor denies that we will be able to keep the existing planning rules." Milton Keynes did not want its energy-efficient approach "watered down", she said.

The new appeal to Government drew all-party support from the council.
Tory Cllr David Hopkins said expansion board Milton Keynes Partnership should be invited to join in the campaign. "Let's get some use out of these people," he added.

Labour called it a "forward-looking policy we wish to support and strengthen".

Council housing leader Irene Henderson said building of "life-time" homes – designed so people could stay on in them in their later years – should have as big a part in the sustainable housing programme.

Doug Smith / Milton Keynes Citizen  
 

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