Countryside charity calls on South Tyneside MPs to support rooftop solar legislation

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South Tyneside’s MPs are being asked to back a bill this week.

CPRE, the countryside charity, has written to South Tyneside's two MPs asking them to back a bill this week which would see solar panels automatically installed on all new build houses.

The County Durham branch of the charity, (formerly the Campaign to Protect Rural England), which covers the old County Durham boundaries which includes South Tyneside, has also written to MPs in Gateshead, Sunderland, Hartlepool and Darlington.

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But they are aware that Jarrow MP Kate Osborne is one of two dozen MPs backing CPRE's national rooftop solar campaign, while South Shields' Emma Lewell-Buck has previously backed a CPRE campaign to restore and replant hedgerows in the countryside.

This week, the Private Members Bill introduced by Gloucester MP Max Wilkinson and officially titled ‘New Homes (Solar Generation)’ will be debated in the House of Commons this Friday but needs at least 100 MPs in the Chamber if has any chance of progressing to the next stage.

A countryside charity calls on South Tyneside MPs to support rooftop solar legislation.A countryside charity calls on South Tyneside MPs to support rooftop solar legislation.
A countryside charity calls on South Tyneside MPs to support rooftop solar legislation. | Other 3rd Party

If it were to pass into law, it would mark the start of an era when new houses automatically came fitted with solar panels, slashing homeowners' energy bills long-term and accelerating the drive towards ending the use of climate-heating fossil fuels.

For CPRE Durham, this legislation would not only be a major step forward but a boost to the charity’s national Rooftop Solar campaign.

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The Durham branch's Richard Cowen, a former chair of CPRE North East, who sent out the letters, said: “We do hope Kate and Emma will be able to be there if possible because this is potentially such an important moment in terms of the direction of travel when it comes to domestic solar.

"We're proud and delighted they've lent their support in the past.

“CPRE's campaign seeks to give businesses and individuals energy independence with rooftop solar at the same time as reducing the need for solar farms in the countryside.”

Richard Cowen, a former chair of CPRE North East.Richard Cowen, a former chair of CPRE North East.
Richard Cowen, a former chair of CPRE North East. | Other 3rd Party

The Government has accused opponents of solar farms in the countryside of being ‘blockers’ and ‘NIMBY but CPRE Durham is pointing out that over-industrialising the countryside risks antagonising people in rural areas and that rooftop solar could defuse many of those concerns.

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In the letter to MPs, CPRE Durham emphasises: “CPRE does not oppose all solar farms in the countryside - we passionately support efforts to generate clean energy and recognise the existential threat to the countryside posed by the climate crisis.

“However, our research shows well over half the solar panels needed to hit near-term national net zero targets could be fitted on rooftops and in car parks.

“Installing solar panels on existing buildings and car parks would enjoy near-universal public support and help minimise objections to the large solar farms in the countryside that might need to be built.”

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Longer-term, CPRE believes that a switch to emphasising rooftop solar and brownfield solar would negate the need for many of the solar farms currently being looked at by developers.

And the Durham campaigners believe Max Wilkinson’s Sunshine Bill could be pivotal in unlocking the power of domestic rooftop solar and helping set the direction of travel for the UK on the road to achieving its clean power targets.

As well as Kate Osborne and Emma Lewell-Buck, CPRE Durham has written to Durham MPs Luke Akehurst (North Durham), Mary Foy (City of Durham), Sam Rushworth (Bishop Auckland), Grahame Morris (Easington), Alan Strickland, (Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor), Matt Vickers, (Stockton West) and to Sunderland and Washington MPs Sharon Hodgson, Bridget Phillipson and Lewis Atkinson.

It is not known which MPs might attend the debate or what stance they will take on the draft legislation.

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But with surveys showing the majority of the public supporting green transition policies, CPRE Durham hopes the region’s politicians will play their part in helping drive forward a historic policy change in decarbonising housing on Friday.

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