The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has called on the Government To Provide greater clarity for Local Authorities to understand what 'Green' credentials they are being measured against.

Eddie Tuttle Public Affairs and Policy Manager said: "We agree there should be a presumption in favour of sustainable development but it has to be based on consistent guidance and parameters on what constitutes ‘sustainable development’ in the economic sense across all Local Authority areas.

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"The ways in which these targets will be met at the local level and included in the new planning framework are missing in the current NPPF draft, which considering the localism agenda should be integral to the planning process. So far the Government has failed to properly explain the assessment that is required and needs to provide guidance on what business and economic measures sustainable development is to be assessed against.”

In addition the CIOB is recommending that the framework encompasses scope for development applications for the retrofitting of the existing building stock, given the emphasis placed on this with the upcoming Green Deal and the need for energy security.

(CD/BMcC)