Planning > Climate Change
OPT recognises the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a response to the threat of global warming. Increased production of renewable energy has an important role to play in achieving this aim, alongside a reduction in energy consumption and increased energy efficiency.
Where renewable energy schemes have a negative effect on the environment such as through the visual impact they make on landscape and townscape, the benefits will need to be balanced against such impact in order to ensure that development offers a net benefit to the environment. This is a particularly significant issue if such development is sited within conservation areas, Green Belt land, or affecting important landscapes or views.
OPT will consider its position on any proposals within Oxford and its setting on a case-by-case basis. This will need to be based on the individual and cumulative impact of development on the historic character of Oxford, on its green setting, and/or on views of the City. OPT will assess impact by considering the location, design, colour, height and positioning of any equipment and any associated landscaping plans, and will oppose applications or request revisions where these are deemed inappropriate. The Trust will seek to include provision to be made for the removal of equipment should it later become redundant, should planning permission be granted.
Current issues being examined include; active interest in the City Council's likely plans for a wind turbine close to the BMW site and Horspath village within the views from Shotover; the installation of solar panels and photovoltaics within conservation areas and on listed buildings and plans for hydroelectric power plants on the River Thames at Oxford. Each project is examined on its individual merits.
