Planning for Stand Alone Systems

[SRE]

Stand-alone Solar Panels:
The following limits apply to stand-alone solar panels:

• They should be no higher than four metres;
• They should be at least 5m from boundaries;
• The surface area of the solar panels forming part of the stand-alone solar is limited to 9 sq m (or 3m wide and 3m deep);
• They should not be installed within the boundary of a listed building;
• In the case of land in a conservation area or in a World Heritage Site, they should not be visible from the highway; and
• Only one stand-alone solar installation is permitted

I know that the amendment in Oct 2008 allowed the panels to be visible from the highway but I'm confused about the 9 sq m bit. That's hardly any panels by my reckoning - just over 1.2 kwp with Sharp 245's. Have I missed something??

 

[BruceB]

I think you are right about the area, I came to the same conclusion. My first PV job was in a conservation area with the option of putting the panels on the ground or on the house. The customer went for the non-planning permission option of mounting them on the house, partly to save the hassle and expense of going through planning.
Regards
Bruce

 

[SRE]

Thanks - 4 surveys yesterday, 1 listed, 2 conservation areas - all slate!! and one coastal with huge issues with erosion. Not the best day I've had :-(

 

[MorganPVI]

Anyone know off-hand if planning is required for detached garages, I think it is irrc.

 

[Worcester]

Subject to the usual (Listed etc) it is a permitted develeopment if it is "a building situated within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse."

 

[beefheart]

hi all, ive got three going through the process at the moment, it is long winded and make sure the customer is committed, planners are following the letter of the (law) as there isnt much precedent. Im in a national park which shouldnt make much difference to PD but does and so does the various legal definitions of curtilage ask any planner to define curtilage legally to older properties and you may find the law is slightly obscure on some properties.. it can be time consuming but the pay back is still as good as pv ...?

 

[SRE]

hi all, ive got three going through the process at the moment, it is long winded and make sure the customer is committed, planners are following the letter of the (law) as there isnt much precedent. Im in a national park which shouldnt make much difference to PD but does and so does the various legal definitions of curtilage ask any planner to define curtilage legally to older properties and you may find the law is slightly obscure on some properties.. it can be time consuming but the pay back is still as good as pv ...?

I think we've drawn the short straw!! 8 currently with the planners, all slate, 5 listed buildings and it looks like there's 2 more on the way. They are all decent folk who will come back to us if/when it goes through - most because no-one else has bothered with them but between that and all the slate roofs we're doing I'm almost wishing I was in the City again!

 

[Elysium]

Do the same planning rules apply to Wales? I noticed that Scotland has different rules.

 

[TedM]

Permitted development in Wales is basically the same as England, but with a tiny difference for stand-alone.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2009