Readers who have been following the debate about the 20 per cent renewable energy target in the London Plan, may be interested in the legal advice given to the Development Control Committee at a special meeting held last week. The two barristers present

Readers who have been following the debate about the 20 per cent renewable energy target in the London Plan, may be interested in the legal advice given to the Development Control Committee at a special meeting held last week.

The two barristers present confirmed that Policy 4A.7 of the London Plan, calling for a presumption that ''developments will achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 20 per cent from on site renewable energy generation'' was the most up to date policy on renewable energy, having been adopted in February.

Camden Council, as local planning authority, is therefore entitled to take that policy into account when negotiating with developers and deciding whether or not to grant planning permission.

Camden planning officers present at the meeting assured us that they are already negotiating very hard with developers to achieve the maximum possible reductions.

I very much welcome Cllr Mike Greene's commitment to introducing the 20 per cent renewable energy presumption as part of Camden's Local Development Framework ''at the earliest opportunity''. That will strengthen Camden's position further.

It is great that there is now a consensus amongst officers and councillors that Camden should be at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Much of the credit should go to our Eco Champion, Cllr Alexis Rowell, who has worked so hard to push the issue of climate change to the very top of the council's agenda.

Cllr David Abrahams

(Lib Dem) Vice-Chair of the Development Control Committee Camden Council