Government’s latest amendments to permitted development rights in England will see more scope for solar panel installations on buildings (or in the curtilage of a building) without needing full or householder planning permission.
Full details of the changes can be found in the amending legislation and its explanatory memorandum, but in summary:
Domestic installations will:
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- be possible on a flat roof (in addition to existing rights for walls and pitched roofs), but subject to prior approval on Article 2(3) land.
- be possible in front gardens in conservation areas up to 2m in height, subject to prior approval.
Non-domestic installations will, subject to prior approval:
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- be allowed to exceed 1 megawatt in capacity (where this was previously the total limit)
- be possible on roof slopes fronting highways on Article 2(3) land
- be possible in front of buildings, up to 2m in height, on Article 2(3) land
Finally, there are new rights for solar canopies to be installed on non-domestic off-street parking.
All the above are subject to meeting the specific eligibility criteria in the relevant permitted development rights. Otherwise, planning permission will be needed.
Phillipa Gatehouse (Planner) commented; ‘This is welcome, and a step in the right direction in implementing the government’s intentions, stated in the NPPF, of the planning system helping the country move towards a low carbon economy’.
