Development and Planning Services
Energy and Carbon Statements
Planning applications for even the smallest residential schemes are no longer straightforward. Across England, local authorities are tightening validation requirements, asking applicants to demonstrate not just compliance with Building Regulations but a credible plan for low-carbon, future-ready homes. For many agents and architects, that means facing requests for an Energy and Carbon Statement and a Low-Carbon Proforma at outline stage — long before detailed design work has been completed.
That is where we step in.
At Responsible Business, we specialise in translating policy into practical commitments that satisfy planners and give your project the best chance of a smooth validation.
We know that on a two-plot scheme, margins are tight and time is critical. You do not want to pay for full SAP calculations at this stage, nor commit to expensive technologies before the design has even settled. What you do need is a clear, proportionate narrative: one that shows the authority how the dwellings will follow the energy hierarchy, meet Part L expectations, manage overheating risks under Part O, and prepare for the trajectory set by the Future Homes Standard.
Our approach is straightforward. We start by gathering the basics from you — gross internal areas, broad construction assumptions, glazing percentages, roof layout. With that in hand, we prepare a planner-ready statement that explains how the scheme will be fabric-first, low-carbon and aligned with national policy. We complete the proforma using your data and, where detail is missing, we set out reasonable assumptions that can be firmed up later. Everything is transparent, everything is defendable.
For you, the benefit is speed and certainty. Instead of wrangling with technical forms or risking delay at validation, you have a partner who can produce a professional, policy-grounded submission in just a few days. For the planning officer, the benefit is clarity. They see evidence that your client takes energy and carbon seriously, that the homes will be designed to minimise demand, and that the strategy aligns with both local plan policies and the national direction of travel.
Heritage Statements
In England, development is never just about bricks and mortar — it is also about place, character and history.
Local authorities are under a duty to protect heritage assets, from listed buildings and conservation areas to locally valued sites and settings. That is why many planning applications, even modest ones, are now held up until a Heritage Statement is provided.
We prepare proportionate, professional Heritage Statements that address the key questions planners need answered. We start with a baseline: what is the asset, why is it important, and what makes up its significance? Then we set out the context of your proposal: what you want to do, how it relates to the asset and its setting, and what the likely impacts are.
Crucially, we provide a clear, balanced assessment of harm and benefit so the planning officer can see that heritage has been properly considered.
Biodiversity Net Gain
From February 2024, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became a mandatory part of the planning system in England. That means almost every planning application — from small residential developments to major infrastructure schemes — must now demonstrate how it will deliver at least a 10% improvement in biodiversity compared to the pre-development baseline.
READY TO BE A RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS?
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take meaningful steps toward a sustainable, purpose-driven future.