On November 13, the Planning and Energy Bill achieved Royal Assent. The Bill was introduced in December 2007 to stop the government reneging on the so-called “Merton rule” which allows local authorities to dictate the level of renewables required in local plans, over and above national requirements. John Slaughter, director of economic affairs at the HBF, commented that the Bill initially caused the Federation concern, “but as far as content is concerned, it reflects the position of national planning policy. It simply provides a framework to promote renewable energy and sets perimeters for local authorities who can now have their own policies on energy efficiency and use of renewables.” <br><br>NEXT KEY DATE: The Act, which received its first reading in December last year, became an Act of Parliament in November<br>