Report Argues for Council Tax Rebates For Greener Houses

A report by the New Local Government Network says Council tax payers should be offered a rebate for installing green technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels.It also suggests local authorities could offer interest-free loans towards the cost of installation.

Currently the government offers a grant of up to 30% towards the cost of installing wind turbines or solar panels.It has also been consulting on whether they should be permitted without planning permission where the impact on neighbours is minimal.

James Macgregor, author of the report ,Finding The Energy, said: "Listening to the voices of local people in this way would ensure that residential amenity was protected as defined by residents.Council tax rebates and capital loans for householders that install domestic micro generation equipment would incentivize local people to engage in the process."

Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that planning laws should be changed."The tests about whether, for instance, a wind turbine on somebody's house has a detrimental impact in a town should actually be left to the neighbourhood to decide themselves," he said.