Planning · Design Stage

Energy Statements
for Planning Applications.

Demonstrate compliance with local authority sustainability and energy policies as part of your planning application. Required by most councils for new residential and commercial developments across England and Wales.

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What is an energy statement?

Demonstrating your development's energy strategy to the local planning authority.

Energy statement for planning application

An energy statement is a planning document that demonstrates how a proposed development will meet the energy and sustainability policies set by the local planning authority. It is typically required as part of a planning application for new residential and commercial buildings, and increasingly for major renovations and changes of use.

The statement sets out the development's energy strategy — covering fabric performance, heating systems, renewable energy provision, and carbon reduction measures. It must demonstrate that the proposed design meets or exceeds the energy targets specified in the local plan, which often go beyond the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations.

Many local authorities now require developments to achieve a percentage reduction in carbon emissions beyond Part L, or to include a minimum level of renewable energy generation. An energy statement prepared early in the design process ensures your scheme is compliant before submission — avoiding costly redesigns or planning objections.

When you need an energy statement

New residential developments — most local authorities require an energy statement for all new dwellings as a planning condition
Commercial and mixed-use schemes — offices, retail, education, healthcare, and mixed-use developments typically require energy strategy documentation
Major renovations — significant works that trigger planning permission often require demonstration of energy improvement measures
Local plan policies — where the local development plan sets specific carbon reduction or renewable energy targets beyond Part L

Each council sets its own policies. Requirements vary significantly between local authorities. Some require a 10% carbon reduction beyond Part L, others require specific renewable energy provision, and some require both. We know the policies for our core service areas and tailor each statement accordingly.

The process

From initial review to planning submission.

We handle the energy statement alongside your SAP or SBEM calculations, ensuring consistency between the planning and Building Regulations submissions.

Local policy review

We identify the specific energy and sustainability policies that apply to your development based on the local authority area and the type of project. Requirements vary significantly between councils.

Energy strategy modelling

We model your proposed building using SAP or SBEM software to establish the baseline energy performance, then assess what measures are needed to meet local targets — fabric improvements, efficient systems, or renewable technology.

Statement preparation

We prepare a comprehensive energy statement document covering the energy hierarchy (be lean, be clean, be green), carbon reduction calculations, renewable energy provision, and compliance demonstration against each relevant policy.

Submission & support

We deliver the energy statement in the format required by your local authority, ready for submission with your planning application. If the planning officer raises queries, we provide technical support to resolve them.

What we need from you

Information required for your energy statement.

Energy statements are most effective when prepared alongside the design stage SAP or SBEM calculations. This ensures the energy strategy presented to planning is consistent with the Building Regulations compliance route — avoiding contradictions that can cause problems at building control stage.

We recommend engaging us as early as possible in the design process. Where local policies require carbon reductions beyond Part L, early modelling allows us to advise on the most cost-effective combination of fabric, systems, and renewables to meet the target — before the design is locked in.

If your development spans multiple local authority areas, or includes both residential and commercial elements, we coordinate the energy strategy across all parts of the scheme to ensure a consistent approach.

Information required

Architectural drawings Floor plans, elevations, and site plan showing orientation and neighbouring buildings.

Construction specification Proposed wall, floor, and roof build-ups with insulation types and thicknesses.

Heating and hot water strategy Proposed heating systems, hot water generation, and any district heating connections.

Renewable energy proposals Any planned solar PV, heat pumps, or other renewable technologies.

Local authority details Which council the application will be submitted to, so we can identify the specific policies.

Planning application reference If already submitted or pre-application advice has been received.

Beyond minimum compliance

Strategies that satisfy planning and save on build costs.

Meeting local energy targets doesn't have to mean expensive bolt-on renewables. We model multiple routes to compliance and recommend the most cost-effective approach for your specific scheme.

Fabric first

Reduce demand before adding technology

High-performance insulation, efficient glazing, and airtight construction reduce the energy your building needs in the first place — often more cost-effective than oversized renewable systems.

System efficiency

Specify the right heating and ventilation

Modern condensing boilers, heat pumps, MVHR systems, and smart controls can significantly reduce carbon emissions. The right system choice depends on your building type and local policy targets.

Renewables

Right-size your renewable provision

Solar PV, heat pumps, and WWHR systems can be sized to precisely meet the local authority target — not over-specified. We model the optimal combination to satisfy planning without unnecessary capital cost.

Why choose us

We know your local authority's policies

Energy requirements vary significantly between councils. We work regularly across Birmingham, Bristol, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire and know each authority's specific policies and expectations.

Coordinated with SAP and SBEM

Your energy statement and Building Regulations calculations are prepared by the same team, ensuring consistency. No contradictions between what you tell planning and what you submit to building control.

Cost-effective compliance routes

We don't just demonstrate compliance — we model multiple routes and recommend the approach that meets the target at the lowest build cost. Energy statements that save you money, not just satisfy a policy box.

Planning query support included

If the planning officer raises technical queries about your energy strategy, we provide written responses and supporting calculations at no additional cost. We see the process through to approval.

Energy statements near you

Local assessors who understand your council's energy policies.

Every local authority sets its own energy and sustainability targets. Our assessors know the specific policies across our core service areas and prepare statements that satisfy each council's requirements first time.

Birmingham & West Midlands

Energy statements for planning applications across Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and the wider West Midlands. We know Birmingham City Council's sustainability policies and those of surrounding borough councils.

Bristol & South West

Planning energy statements across Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, and the surrounding South West. Bristol's Core Strategy requires specific carbon reduction targets — we ensure your scheme demonstrates compliance.

Worcestershire

Based in Worcester — energy statements across Malvern, Droitwich, Evesham, Bromsgrove, and Redditch. Our home county with the fastest turnaround and deepest local planning knowledge.

Gloucestershire

Energy strategy documentation for planning across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Tewkesbury, and the Cotswolds. Residential and commercial schemes assessed against local plan policies.

Oxfordshire

Energy statements across Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Witney, and the wider Oxfordshire area. Oxford's local plan has some of the most ambitious energy targets — we ensure your scheme meets them.

Wider England & Wales

As accredited assessors, our energy statements are valid across the whole of England and Wales. We research any local authority's policies and prepare statements accordingly.

Looking for energy statements near you? Whether you need a planning energy statement for a housing scheme in Birmingham, a commercial development in Bristol, or a mixed-use project in Oxfordshire — we deliver policy-compliant reports with cost-effective compliance recommendations. Call 01386 365145 or email us to get started.

FAQ

Common questions about energy statements.

An energy statement is a document submitted as part of a planning application that sets out how the proposed development will meet the local authority's energy and sustainability policies. It covers the building's predicted energy performance, carbon emissions, and any renewable energy provision, demonstrating that the scheme meets or exceeds local targets.

No, although they're related. A SAP calculation assesses a dwelling's energy performance against Part L of the Building Regulations. An energy statement is a planning document that demonstrates compliance with local authority energy policies, which often require performance beyond the Part L minimum. We typically prepare both together to ensure consistency.

Most local authorities in England and Wales now require some form of energy or sustainability statement as part of planning applications for new developments. The specific requirements, thresholds, and targets vary between councils. Some require them for all new dwellings, others only for developments above a certain size. We identify the specific requirements for your council as part of our service.

Pricing depends on the size and complexity of the development, the local authority's specific requirements, and whether you also need SAP or SBEM calculations. We provide a clear, fixed-price quote after reviewing your project details. Energy statements are often most cost-effective when bundled with the Building Regulations calculations.

Yes. We prepare energy statements for all building types — residential, commercial, mixed-use, education, healthcare, and retail. For commercial buildings, the energy modelling is based on SBEM rather than SAP, and the statement addresses the relevant commercial energy policies in the local plan.

If the initial modelling shows that your proposed design doesn't meet the local authority's energy target, we advise on the most cost-effective changes to bring it into compliance. This might involve upgrading insulation, changing the heating system, adding solar PV, or adjusting the glazing specification. We model multiple options so you can make an informed decision.

Most energy statements are delivered within 5–7 working days of receiving complete information. If prepared alongside SAP or SBEM calculations, both are typically delivered together. Urgent turnarounds are available on request.

Extensions don't typically require a standalone energy statement for planning, unless the local authority's policies specifically require one for the scale of work proposed. However, extensions with more than 25% glazing may need separate compliance calculations. We can advise on what's required for your specific project and local authority.

Energy Statementsfor Planning Applications.