City council attacks University on commitment to renewable energy
City councillors have refused to approve the most recent stage of the Heslington East campus expansion after accusing the University of “ducking and diving” on its commitment to renewable energy.
At an October 2 meeting the City of York Council Planning Committee deferred approving plans for the new Department of Theatre Film and Television (TFTV). Councillors claimed that the University had failed to provide sufficient evidence of how it planned to meet its commitment to produce 10% of its total energy requirements from renewable onsite sources.
Liberal Democrat Cllr. Christian Vassie said: “We are simply not convinced that the University is committed to renewable energy for that site. We expect the city’s leading academic institution to help in that regard and not appear to be ducking and diving in helping the city go forwards.”
Cllr. Ruth Potter, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, said: “It is very disappointing that the University isn’t coming forward and showing leadership on this issue. There have been words but no action.”
The committee had the option to approve the application on the condition that an energy plan be presented at a later date. Vassie said the committee refused to give approval to send a “strong message” to the University.
Councillors raised a number of specific concerns, claiming that the design of the TFTV building would not allow for the placement of solar panels on the roof and that no effort had been made to include water source heat pumps in plans for the lake. The University has as yet made no application for wind turbines.
The University was represented at the meeting by Director of Facilities Management Keith Lilley. Lilley told councillors that the University was taking a “holistic” approach to renewable energy which could not be judged on the design of a single building.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Heaps, who is responsible for overseeing the Heslington East project said that coucillors’ criticisms were unfair.
She said: “We are taking a University wide view of energy provision and consumption, and are committed to being energy efficient in a broad sense. We have a robust, effective long-term energy strategy. We acknowledge, however, that we may not have communicated our strategy to councillors with sufficient clarity.”
No records of votes are kept at meetings of Planning Committee but both Potter and Vassie said the approval was refused by a wide, cross-party majority. The University is expected to return to the Planning Committee on October 23 with updated plans.
The University committed to producing 10% of its energy requirements from renewable onsite sources in the Heslington East Master Plan, released in April 2008. The plan also commits the University to a reduction in carbon emissions across the entire campus of 10% by 2010 from 2004 levels.
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