London Energy Partnership building capacity in London’s low carbon skills
The London Energy Partnership has developed a set of modules for planners to be used at the graduate level and for providers of Continuing Personal Development (CPD). These were developed in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that they covered a range of topic areas such as renewable and CHP technology, national and regional strategy and energy efficiency. They are intended for use at graduate level to ensure that recruits coming in to the planning industry have a good understanding of issues around energy and policy. The CPD modules are designed as structured refresher courses for those already in the sector.
Subsequent to the development of this broad set of materials, the LEP along with the London Development Agency conducted a second round of development, whereby the materials were condensed in to a single day course. This was to enable the delivery of training to the planners currently working in London Boroughs. This is being undertaken over the course of 2008 and details can be found in the Project Report due to be on site soon.
While initially designed for use in London, the university and CPD modules can be tailored to suit the needs of other regions in the United Kingdom. We would encourage stakeholders to download a copy of the Project Report and the Trainers Manual to gain a better understanding of the materials and how they might be used. Stakeholders can then request a copy of the materials and tailor them to their own needs before implementation.
LEP Planners Energy Training (Uni and CPD) Trainer manual (PDF, 346 KB)
LEP Planners Training Project Briefing (V4) (PDF, 148 KB)
To request a copy of the course materials please follow this link
Skills for a Low Carbon London (2007)
This report highlights that national and regional policy and initiatives will require additional jobs and skills in many different sectors. This study has involved participation from a wide variety of sectors and interests, including employers, Sector Skill Councils, Further and Higher Education and independent sector education and training organisation.
London needs these organisations to work together to ensure the workforce is equipped to exploit the new economic opportunities that responding to the challenge of climate change will create.
Skills for a Low Carbon London Summary Report and Recommendations (2007) (PDF, 881 KB)
Planning policy: making it work
The project report 'Capacity building for planners and others implementing energy-related planning policy in London’ acts as a resource for planners, engineers and developers and aims to increase understanding of and receptiveness to energy related planning policy. The project provided advice and support to planners in a number of London Boroughs and information to engineers and architects. Recommendations include assistance in the form of training, the distribution of glossaries of typical terms used and the increased need for technical support for borough planners to implement energy policies.
Capacity building for planners and others (2007) (PDF, 703 KB)
Capacity building on sustainable energy planning policy and new build
After the launch of 'Integrating renewable energy in new developments: Toolkit for planners, developers and consultants', London Renewables (now part of the London Energy Partnership) provided training and pilot support to London borough planners, councillors and housing associations and developers. The report from this work, 'Sustainable energy training and pilot support programme for local authorities' has fed into onward support through the London Energy Partnership to London borough planning officers for development-specific support and to designers on implementing energy-related planning policy.
The LEP’s project complements a support service which developed from the pilot support programme.
Sustainable energy training and pilot support programme for local authorities (2005) (PDF, 555 KB)
Tools and Information for planners and the development and design community
Developed for London Renewables, the toolkit aims to provide planners and developers with:
A series of summary documents has also been produced:
Summary for planners (2004) (PDF, 174 KB) (2004)
Summary for developers (2004) (PDF, 182 KB) (2004)
Summary for councillors (2004) (PDF, 124 KB) (2004)
Summary for housing associations (2004) (PDF, 162 KB) (2004)
Summary for architects (2004) (PDF, 167 KB) (2004)
Summary for property management companies (2004) (PDF, 247 KB) (2004)
For regional planning documents – The London Plan
Skills and Jobs from Renewable Energy, Policies and Targets (2004)
This work by London Renewables investigated potential skills gaps. This work informed the work London Energy Partnership skills study published March 2007.
Skills and Jobs from Renewable Energy, Policies and Targets (PDF, 1.71 MB)
Skills Development Task Group
3rd Skills Development Task Group meeting minutes (PDF, 127 KB)
2nd Skills Development Task Group Meeting Agenda (PDF, 152 KB)
Please also see the London Wind and Biomass Study and the Towards Zero Carbon Development report, which have important implications for skills and planning in delivering sustainable energy.