From 2025, Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Places for Everyone plan introduces new energy and carbon standards to accelerate progress toward the region’s 2038 net-zero target.
Residential developments must now meet space-heating demands of 20 kWh/m² for houses and 15 kWh/m² for flats, achieve a 20% reduction in hot-water demand, and incorporate on-site solar PV covering 40% of ground-floor area (where viable). For major developments, planning applicants are expected to include CIBSE TM54 operational energy modelling to capture both regulated and unregulated energy use and quantify the lifecycle carbon arising from the scheme.
Developers are also required to submit the Greater Manchester Carbon Proforma, summarising expected energy demand, carbon emissions, and offset measures. This standardised form ensures consistency across submissions and enables planning authorities to assess how proposals align with Places for Everyone policies and the city region’s net-zero pathway.
The team at Element Sustainability can meet these requirements through TM54 predictive energy modelling, completion of the Carbon Proforma, life cycle analysis carbon assessments, and tailored advice on energy strategies, and low-carbon design solutions that achieve full compliance with the new standards. We offer a cohesive low/ Net Zero Carbon consultancy package in order to meet these requirements.