South Gloucestershire Council Sustainable Energy Planning Requirements

South Gloucestershire Council’s planning policies set out clear sustainability and energy standards for developers submitting planning applications. This guide breaks down the key policies and the latest guidance on how to ensure compliance – especially for major residential developments.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

• The key sustainability policies affecting planning applications under South Gloucestershire Council
• How these policies apply to new residential and commercial developments
• When a Sustainable Energy Statement is required
• What developers must do to demonstrate compliance

What Are the Key Sustainability Planning Policies?

South Gloucestershire Council applies several local plan policies to new developments to ensure energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and climate resilience. The most relevant for major development proposals include:

• Policy PSP6 – On-site Renewable and Low Carbon Energy
• CS1(8) – High Quality Design
• CS3 – Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation
• CS4 – Renewable or Low Carbon District Heat Networks

Major development is defined as:

• Non-residential development of over 1,000 sqm of floor space
• Residential development of 10 or more dwellings

PSP6: On-Site Renewables and Low Carbon Energy

South Gloucestershire’s Local Plan Policy PSP6 has specific requirements for major greenfield residential developments:

• Proposals must demonstrate a minimum 20% reduction in total (regulated + unregulated) CO₂ emissions using renewable and/or low carbon energy generation.
• Energy efficiency measures must exceed current Building Regulations Part L (2021) as a first step.
• Developers must show how roofs are designed and oriented to support the efficient installation of solar technologies.
• Supporting evidence — such as SAP calculations and completed Energy Tables 1a–1c — must be provided in the Energy Statement.

CS1(8): High-Quality Design

South Gloucestershire’s Core Strategy policy CS1(8) expects developers to integrate energy conservation and efficiency into their building design, including:

• Strategic siting and orientation of buildings and roof slopes to maximise solar gain
• The use of fabric-first principles to reduce heating demand and improve airtightness
• Demonstrating how the scheme outperforms Part L 2021 standards
• In non-residential developments, targeting BREEAM “Very Good” or higher is encouraged

CS3: Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Generation

Policy CS3 supports energy generation from renewable or low-carbon sources, including:

• Air/ground source heat pumps
• Solar PV and solar thermal
• CHP, energy from waste, and other decentralised technologies

Proposals must not negatively impact nearby properties or protected landscapes. Proposals for standalone installations (e.g., solar farms or biomass boilers) should also include installed capacity (kW), predicted generation (kWh/yr), and CO₂ savings (tonnes/yr).

CS4: Renewable or Low Carbon District Heat Networks

Policy CS4 encourages developers to connect to district heating networks where viable. Requirements vary by scale:

• Major schemes (100+ dwellings or >10,000 sqm) must assess the feasibility of connecting to or creating a heat network using the CIBSE CP1 Heat Network Code of Practice.
• Smaller schemes must connect to existing networks if practical and viable.
• If your project includes industrial waste heat, you must demonstrate how it will be captured and redistributed — or explain why it is not feasible.

For developments with fewer than 100 dwellings or under 10,000sqm of commercial space, policy CS4 encourages connection to existing district heat networks where feasible and financially viable.

When is a Sustainable Energy Statement Required?

Under South Gloucestershire’s Planning Application Requirements, a Sustainable Energy Statement is required for all major developments. This statement may be a standalone report or included within the Design and Access Statement.

The statement should include:

• The applicable version of Building Regs (currently Part L 2021)
• Baseline energy demand and emissions
• Proposed energy efficiency measures beyond Building Regs
• Heating and hot water system specs (with low-carbon alternatives encouraged)
• On-site renewable energy generation details and system performance
• Climate resilience and overheating risk assessments (e.g., CIBSE TM59)

What Does This Mean for Developers?

South Gloucestershire Council places a strong emphasis on energy performance and renewable integration. To comply:

• Integrate energy modelling and sustainability assessments from the early design stage
• Use a fabric-first approach to exceed Part L performance
• Include heat pumps, PV panels, or other renewables to meet PSP6’s 20% CO₂ reduction requirement
• Complete and submit the required Energy Tables and supporting SAP/BRUKL documentation
• Factor in climate resilience, including dynamic overheating risk assessments

Useful Tools and Resources

• South Gloucestershire Planning Requirements (SGC Website)
• Net Zero Carbon Toolkit
• Guidance on compliance with SGC’s policies on energy and sustainability

What About Commercial Developments?

For non-residential developments over 1,000 sqm, South Gloucestershire Council also requires a Sustainable Energy Statement as part of major applications. These must demonstrate:

• How the scheme meets or exceeds Part L (2021) SBEM compliance
• Opportunities to incorporate low-carbon heating systems and on-site renewables
• Assessment of connection feasibility to district heat networks (as required under Policy CS4)
• Commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability standards, with a BREEAM “Very Good” rating encouraged for large-scale commercial buildings

We offer SBEM calculations, overheating assessments, and sustainability reports to help commercial developers achieve compliance with South Gloucestershire’s Local Plan.

What’s Next?

South Gloucestershire’s updated policies require a proactive approach to sustainability and planning compliance. Developers who plan ahead will avoid delays and build long-term value into their schemes.

Need support with your Sustainable Energy Statement, SAP/SBEM Calculations, or Overheating Risk Assessment? Our sustainability consultants ensure your planning application meets all energy and environmental requirements with clarity and technical precision.

Contact us today to discuss your project’s sustainability strategy and ensure a smoother planning approval process.