Solar panels on a house or block of flats
There are presently two types of solar panel available for
domestic use - photovoltaic (PV) and thermal.
Solar thermal systems: A solar thermal system
uses the sun's energy to warm a heat conductive fluid that
passes through panels usually located on the roof of a building.
The heat energy collected is then passed though a heat exchanger
into a tank of stored water thereby raising its temperature. The
warmed water is then fed into your domestic boiler where
additional heat is added if neccesary and then on to your taps
etc.
Photovoltaic systems (PV): A photovoltaic
system converts the sun's light energy directly into electricity
which is then fed into your domestic electrical system.
Whilst contributing to your home's energy demands
effective photovoltaic panels have the potential to
generate a surplus supply of electricity which can be sold to the
national grid to generate an income. Government backed
Feed-In Tarriffs
(FITs) are available for those looking to sell electicity back
to the grid.
Further details of this, together with other ways to help reduce
your home's impact on the environment can be found on the Council's
Climate Change: Residents
section.
In planning terms both systems are viewed in the same way, and
the following rules apply.
Do I need planning permission?
As of 1 December 2011 if you want to install, alter or replace
solar (photovoltaic or thermal) equipment on a
dwellinghouse or block of flats (see definitions below)
or on a building located within the curtilage
(boundary) of a dwellinghouse or block of flats;
Planning permission will not be required as
long as:
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• |
The equipment does not protrude more than 200 millimetres (mm) from
the plane of the roof slope or face of a wall (when measured
perpendicularly/out at a right angle from the face of that roof or
wall slope
The equipment is no higher than the highest part of the roof
(excluding the chimney)
Note: If you are intending to install solar panels onto a flat roof
please remember that they cannot protrude more than 200mm from the
plane of the roof, therefore if you plan to mount the panels at an
angle you will most probably need planning permission. Please refer
to illustrations for more details. |
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Additional site specific restrictions
In addition to the above criteria there are still site specific
restrictions that may apply to your residential property.
You can use our online mapping service to check to see if
these restrictions apply to your property.
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If your property is located within a Conservation
Area, the equipment must not be located on a wall
which fronts a highway (road or footpath).
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Solar panels must not be placed on a site is designated
as a scheduled ancient monument or forms part of the
curtilage of a listed building.
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Conditions
If your proposed turbine meets all of the above criteria you do
not need to apply for planning permission before you install the
device, however there are still a number of conditions
that apply. These are as follows:
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It shall be sited as far as practicable so as to minimise
effect on the external appearance of the building
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It shall be sited, as far as practicable so as to minimise the
effect on the amenity of the area
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The equipment shall be removed when no longer in use
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What next?
If you are looking to be able to sell any excess
electricity generated back to the national grid you will need to be
registered on a Feed-in tariff (FITs). In order to be able
to be eligible for the Feed-in Tariff your system must be installed
by an MCS accredited installer. To search for an MCS approved
installer you can refer to the
MCS Installer Search page. For more general information
and guidance on installing solar panels please refer to the
Energy Saving Trust website.
Definitions
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Block of flats means any building which
consists wholly of flats
|
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Detached dwellinghouse or detached
building means a dwellinghouse or building, as the
case may be, which does not share a party wall with a neighbouring
building
|
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MSC Planning Standards means the product and
installation standards for air sourse heat pumps and wind turbines
specified in Microgeneration Certificate Scheme MSC 020(b) – we
recommend you seek advice from a suitably qualified and experienced
supplier with regard to this aspect. |
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Safeguarded land means land which:
(a) Is necessary to be safeguarded for aviation or defence
purposes; and
(b) Has been notified as such, in writing, to the Secretary of
State by an aerodrome operator, NATS (EN ROUTE) PLC or the
Secretary of State for Defence for the purposes of these
regulations
|
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Stand alone solar means solar
thermal or PV equipment which is not installed on a building |
Disclaimer
This advice is not meant as a substitute for the actual
regulations contained in The Town and Country Planning (General
Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2011. You can
check this regulation by visiting www.legislation.gov.uk
Peterborough City Council Planning Services recommends that
before proceeding with any development that you obtain written
advice from the Council with regard to whether planning permission
is required. Please refer to the main Do I need planning permission?
page for further details.