Energy & Sustainability Planning Statements: What They Are and Why They Matter

When you’re bringing a new development forward—whether it’s a commercial property, a residential scheme, or a major mixed-use site—there’s one document that increasingly sits at the heart of the planning process: the Energy and Sustainability Planning Statement.

It’s not just a box-ticking exercise. As local authorities set tougher standards on carbon reduction, building performance, and future-proofing infrastructure, this statement plays a crucial role in shaping how a project is designed, approved, and ultimately delivered.  Each planning authority’s content requirements for these statements are different, so each one will assess different performance metrics.

At Enevo, we spend a lot of time helping clients navigate this space. So, what exactly is an Energy and Sustainability Statement, why do you need one, and how can we help?

So, What Is an Energy & Sustainability Planning Statement?

In simple terms, it’s a document that explains how your proposed development will meet national, regional, and local policy requirements around energy use, carbon reduction, and sustainable design.

It demonstrates that the project has been thought through from the start—how it will use energy efficiently, how emissions will be reduced, and how it contributes to wider sustainability goals such as climate resilience, resource efficiency, and the wellbeing of future occupants.

A typical statement will explore things like:

• The overall energy strategy
• Compliance with building regulations and local planning policies
• Predicted energy consumption and carbon emissions
• Opportunities for renewable technologies (heat pumps, solar PV, etc.)
• Sustainable design features like insulation, airtightness, water efficiency, and materials
• How the development aligns with long-term climate targets

In essence, it’s a bridge between the technical and the strategic—ensuring planners understand the thought process behind your approach.

Why Are These Statements Required?

As the UK continues its journey toward net zero, local authorities are under growing pressure to ensure new developments are low-carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible.

An Energy & Sustainability Statement is how you demonstrate that your project does exactly that.

Some reasons local councils insist on them:

• Policy compliance: National and local planning frameworks expect developments to minimise carbon emissions and deliver efficient buildings.
• Consistency in decision making: Councils need a clear, structured way to compare development proposals.
• Confidence in design quality: A well-prepared statement shows that energy efficiency isn’t an afterthought.
• Future-proofing: Authorities want assurance that developments won’t need costly retrofits in years to come.
• Without a robust statement, applications can face significant delays—or even rejection.

How Enevo Helps

At Enevo, we specialise in delivering practical, technically sound, and policy-compliant Energy & Sustainability Statements for planning.

Our role is to make this part of the process as smooth as possible while adding real value to your project.

Here’s how we support clients:

We provide clarity from the start

• We break down policy requirements, identify what applies to your project, and outline the most cost-effective and compliant path forward.

We build energy strategies that work in the real world

• Our engineers develop solutions that maximise efficiency and reduce carbon without burdening the project with unnecessary technologies or unrealistic targets.

We model, assess, and justify

• Through detailed calculations, carbon modelling, and technical analysis, we provide the evidence planners expect to see.

We help you unlock approvals faster

• A clear, comprehensive statement reduces planning risk, speeds up decision-making, and helps avoid costly redesigns later in the process.
• Whether it’s a small single-block development or a complex multi-building masterplan, our team brings experience from across the UK planning landscape—ensuring your project stands up to scrutiny and positions itself strongly for approval.

Ready to Strengthen Your Planning Application?

An Energy & Sustainability Statement is more than a requirement—it’s an opportunity to create a smarter, more efficient, and more compliant development from day one.

If you’re preparing a planning application and need expert guidance, Enevo can help you shape the right strategy and deliver a robust, planner-ready document.

Visit us at enevo.co.uk or get in touch to discuss your next project.