Proposals for hydropower schemes must:

Proposals for renewable and low-carbon energy infrastructure must demonstrate that environmental risks have been assessed and mitigated, including impacts on water, land, and air quality. Where Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) developments are proposed, site selection and design must incorporate measures for fire safety, water runoff containment, and flood protection.

avoid any physical modifications to the river channel that could adversely affect wildlife;

allow for the movement of multiple species and sizes of fish; and

avoid any adverse reduction in water flows and levels.

The government's Net Zero Strategy80 aims to tackle climate change whilst also effecting economic growth across the UK; for the planning system, it sets out the key aim to “Ensure the planning system can support the deployment of low carbon energy infrastructure.” The strategy recognises that by 2035 all our electricity will need to come from low carbon sources, and sets out that we will need increased investment in the grid network, electricity storage solutions and flexible grid management, to ensure decarbonisation without risking security of supply. Community initiatives are likely to play an increasingly important role in the uptake of renewable energy and should be encouraged as a way of providing positive local benefits to wider society. The NPPF recognises that elements of many renewable energy projects located in the Green Belt will comprise inappropriate development and therefore very special circumstances will need to be demonstrated for projects to proceed. In terms of heritage, a setting assessment may be necessary following the Historic Environment GPA in Planning Note 3.

To reach carbon neutrality, Stockport will need to generate significantly more renewable electricity locally. Greater reliance on electricity will require investment in generation capacity and storage, and distribution network infrastructure upgrades. The following will all make important contributions to meeting our carbon budget: rooftops for deploying solar photo-voltaic (PV) and thermal panels, home and commercial battery energy storage, ground mounted solar PV, small-scale hydroelectric and wind turbines. The Stockport Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) has identified that there are substantial opportunities for solar PV across Stockport, and some limited opportunities for hydro. In addition, the Stockport Energy and Carbon Study 2020 identifies a number of principal opportunities for