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Planning
Home energy generation
In March 2008 new rules were brought in by the government to make it easier for homeowners to install solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other micro-generation technologies (except wind turbines) without applying for planning permission.
Size limitations have been set to reduce the impact on neighbours, for example :
- Solar panels attached to a building must not protrude more than 200mm from the roof-slope or be higher than the highest part of the roof.
- In conservation areas, they should not be on a wall or roof-slope fronting a highway. From 1st October 2008, solar panels in a conservation area should not be on a wall fronting a highway but they can be installed on the front roof slope.
- Stand-alone panels must not exceed 4m in height above ground level or be within 5m of the boundary.
Wind turbines are not yet 'permitted development' and therefore will usually require planning permission. The main considerations when assessing an application for a wind turbine are its visual impact and the potential for noise disturbance to neighbouring residents.
Adur District Council is looking to include policies on renewable energy in the forthcoming Local Development Framework (LDF).
Adur District Council is generally supportive of home energy generation installations subject to the impact on neighbours and the street scene and relevant planning, conservation area or listed building permission(s) where required.
Please note that you should always check with the Planning Department before installing such equipment to ensure that it does not require planning permission.
For more details about home energy generation (including: solar electricity (photovoltaics); small scale wind turbines; solar thermal (water heating); ground source heat pumps; small scale hydro electricity; biomass; and micro-combined heat and power); and energy saving please see the relevant sections of the greener homes section of the Planning Portal website (www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/greenerhomes).
