Permitted Development

17-Nov-09

Renewables and Electric Vehicle Charging points

The Government announced changes to permitted development for renewables and electric vehicle charging points in November 2009. This consultation proposed to grant permitted development rights in the planning system for certain types of small scale renewable and low carbon energy technologies, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. By removing the requirement to obtain planning permission from the local planning authority, these proposals intended to make it easier for householders, businesses and others to install renewable and low carbon technologies in both domestic and non-domestic settings. The proposals are also intended to assist in facilitating the development of a robust electric vehicle charging network, so as to encourage the take up of electric vehicles.

The proposals grant permitted development rights [by amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995] for the following:

On domestic premises: Wind turbines and air source heat pumps, subject to certain limitations/conditions, such as a requirement to be installed and certified through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (to ensure industry standards), a maximum noise level (no more than 45dB), appropriate siting, maximum height/size/number of installations and restrictions relating to sensitive areas (e.g. Conservation Areas, World Heritage Sites). Introducing permitted development rights for these domestic technologies would complete the picture for householders, as permitted development rights for other domestic technologies, such as solar panels, were introduced in April 2008.

On non-domestic premises:

  • Wind turbines and air source heat pumps, with similar limitations/conditions to domestic installations, but generally with greater thresholds as appropriate. A 45dB noise limit is proposed
  • Solar panels subject to certain limitations/conditions, such as limits on size, siting, height (where freestanding), number of installations
  • Ground and water source heat pumps subject to limitations/conditions, principally area of piping and (for ground source heat pumps) area of excavation
  • Flues for biomass systems and combined heat and power systems, subject to limitations/conditions such as capacity of system and flue height
  • With regard to wind turbines, air source heat pumps and solar panels, we are proposing to be more permissive in terms of granting permitted development rights for Class B2: General Industrial premises, as they already have extensive permitted development rights including for the installation of plant and machinery whose impacts can be greater than those for the technologies we are proposing.

In addition to the above, for agricultural and forestry premises only:

  • Structures to house anaerobic digestion systems and biomass boilers; and associated fuel stores
  • Structures to house hydro-turbines (for hydro systems)
  • For these structures, we propose to clarify that these structures should be considered to benefit from the same permitted development rights / prior approval procedures as other agricultural and forestry land, by making this explicit in legislation.

Click here to download the consultation paper.

RTPI Consultation Response

Read the RTPI's response to the consultation (Feb 2010)

Previous RTPI Policy Positions

 

 
Author:
Rebecca Coates
Publisher:
The Royal Town Planning Institute
Date:
17-Nov-09
Categories:
Planning / Planning Resources, Policy, Practice 
Sections:
News & Media , The RTPI , What Planning Does

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