Go Zero

Planning Restrictions on Microgeneration to be Scrapped

The government is clearing the way for microgeneration technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines, to be installed on homes without the need for planning permission. Communities secretary Ruth Kelly unveiled the proposals in March as the first part of the government’s broader review of permitted development rights for
householders.

Removing planning barriers to encourage the take-up of renewable energy systems is seen as a key element in the government’s climate change strategy. Under the proposals, local authorities will only be able to restrict installations in exceptional circumstances or where benefits are clearly outweighed by the environment impact.  The DCLG’s consultation paper puts forward the design limits within which  microgeneration installations would automatically be allowed.  Solar panels, for instance, will be permitted on the roof and walls as long as the array is no more than 150mm above roof level. Stand alone solar installations will also be permitted up to 4m in height as long as they are set back from boundaries.  And there is a presumption in favour of wind turbines too, provided they operate within specified noise levels.  Building-mounted turbines will be allowed as long as they extend less than 3m above the roof ridge, while stand alone turbines can be up to 11m if set well back from the property boundary. 

Some concessions have been made to appease the conservationist lobby: in conservation areas, buildingmounted turbines will not be permitted at all (stand alone turbines will still be allowed if not sited in front of buildings) and solar panels will not be permitted on the principal (front) elevation.  Otherwise there is a general presumption in favour of heat pumps, biomass and CHP except for certain restrictions on noise and the positioning of flues.

A similar relaxation of permitted development rights should now be introduced on commercial developments in general, said the Royal Town Planning Institute after the DCLG proposals were unveiled.  The statement from the DCLG also holds out the prospect of new incentives for domestic energy generation, which the department says could spawn an eight-fold increase in the number of household energy producers.
Further details are promised in the forthcoming Energy White Paper, which is expected to be published in May.

‘Changes to Permitted Development: Consultation Paper 1 – Permitted Development Rights for Householder Microgeneration’ is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1508888

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