SolarAge

Planning permission

Installing certain renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and biomass boilers, has now been made a lot simpler thanks to Permitted development rights introduced on 6th April 2008 in England and 12th March 2009 in Scotland
Permitted development rights:
In England and Scotland, changes to permitted development rights for renewable technologies introduced on 6th April 2008 and 12th March respectively, have lifted the requirements for planning permission for most domestic microgeneration technologies.
The general Permitted Development Order (GPDO), or the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2009 grants rights to carry out certain limited forms of development on the home without the need to apply for planning permission. The scope of the GPDO in England and the TCP (GPD) in Scotland now extends to the following technologies:
Solar PV and solar thermal (Roof mounted):
Permitted unless:
•    The solar PV or solar thermal equipment would protrude more than 200 millimetres beyond the plane of the wall or the roof slope when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of the wall or roof slope.
•    It would result in the highest part of the solar PV or solar thermal equipment being higher than the highest part of the roof (excluding any chimney).
•    In the case of land within a conservation area or which is a World Heritage Site, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed-
1.    On a wall or roof slope forming the principal or side elevation of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway; or
2.    On a wall or roof slope of a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway; or
•    The solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse if the dwellinghouse is a listed building.
Solar PV and solar thermal (stand alone):
Permitted unless:
•    Would exceed four metres in height above ground level.
•    Installed less than five metres away from a boundary (England only).
•    Above a maximum area of array of 9m2.
•    Situated on a wall within any part of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway in Conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

 

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