First of all, please make sure that you have read: Planning Permission

What is set out below is based on advice from the Governments own Permitted Development Rights Scheme, which state

The Government’s revised ‘permitted rights development’ which was introduced for renewable technologies. “Permitted development rights introduced on 6th April 2008 in England: Solar PV and solar thermal (roof mounted): Permitted unless;(i) panels when installed protrude more then 200mm.(ii) they would be placed on the principal elevation facing onto and visible from a highway in buildings in Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.” 

(Note: The 200mm rule tends to be a general rule in most councils, and relates to all roof modifications e.g roof lights etc wether you are in a conservation area or not!)

The Following Documents Specifically Apply:

Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5): Planning for the Historic Environment

Statutory Instrument 2008 No 675 “Part 40 – Installation Of Domestic Microgeneration Equipment”

Explanatory Memorandum To Statutory Instrument 2008 No 675

Statutory Instrument 2008 No 2362 “Installation of Domestic Microgeneration Equipment”

 

Below is a sample letter recently received from a Local Authority when we SPECIFICALLY asked about conservation areas, related to a specific property:

(we have edited the actual contact details..)

Proposal: Solar PV Panels on the roof
Location: Our House

Thank you for your letter of xx December 2010 and we apologise for the delay in responding.

We have checked for any site constraints and can advise that the property lies in the …………………….. Conservation Area which was dedicated in …………………..  There are no additional planning condition restrictions attached to the property in respect of the proposal and therefore we can confirm planning permission will not be required for the solar panels provided that the following criteria are met:

The solar PV or solar thermal equipment should not be installed

  • (i) on a wall forming the principle or side elevation of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway; or
  • (ii) on a wall of a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway

In addition, the above development is subject to the following general conditions:

  1. The solar PV or solar thermal equipment would not 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.
  2. It would not 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).
  3. Solar PV or solar thermal equipment installed on a building shall, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building.
  4. Solar PV or solar thermal equipment shall, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  5. Solar PV or solar thermal equipment no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.

The advice given would not override any legal restrictions or covenants on the deeds of the property.

The above details are given in the spirit of helpfulness and based upon the information provided. However the views expressed are those of an officer and are not binding on the Council.

In addition, we would recommend that you contact Your Council’s Building Control at The Council House, Your Town on 0844-453-5591 or email on building.control@worcesterrenewables.com as building regulations will be required.

The second set of conditions are general development conditions and are ‘common sense, the only regulations that are added because of the Conservation Area are

The solar PV or solar thermal equipment should not be installed

  • (i) on a wall forming the principle or side elevation of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway; or
  • (ii) on a wall of a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse and would be visible from a highway

and so long as these conditions are met, then no planning permission should be needed, however, you should ALWAYS consult your Local Planning Authority and check first.