The government has confirmed it has ‘no plans’ to class greenhouse horticulture as eligible for higher rates of energy bill support under the Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
In a parliamentary question, answered at the end of April, Esther McVey, MP for Tatton in Cheshire, asked the minister for energy security and net zero, Graham Stuart, if he would be extending the definition of ‘energy intensive industries’ to include horticulture.
In response Mr Stuart said a review of the scheme had assessed evidence from stakeholders in sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices, based on energy and trade intensity, and that as a consequence there were no plans to extend the higher level of support to any other sector.
In three other questions tabled at the same time Ms McVey also asked the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about ‘delivering a planning policy that encourages growers to expand and modernise’ and, more specifically about planning policies relating to renewable energy and reservoirs.
The department’s response pointed out there are already permitted development rights for certain types of development including small reservoirs and roof-top solar schemes; and guidance in the national planning policy framework which clarifies that local authorities should have a positive strategy in place to promote renewable energy.
Read more news and features from the protected crop industry in our monthly publication The Commercial Greenhouse Grower.