An amendment to Permitted Development Rights (PDR’s) means that as of 6th April 2012 planning permission is no longer required to install Solar PV panels on non-domestic buildings.
Ground mounted systems up to 9m2 will also be able to proceed without planning permission.
As with all permitted development rights the following must be met for Roof Mounted and Ground Mounted systems.
Roof Mounted
The array must not protrude more than 200mm from the surface that it is on i.e. roof slope or wall. If it is a flat roof the solar array must be less than 1m in height above the highest part of the flat roof excluding any chimneys.
The Solar PV must be more than 1m away from the external edge of roof or the joint of the wall that it is on.
If situated on article 1(5) Land (National Park, area of outstanding Natural Beauty, a conservation area etc.) the solar array cannot be mounted on a roof slope or a wall fronting a highway.
Planning permission WILL BE required is the Solar PV is on an existing building, on a building with the cartilage of a listed building or upon a site designated a scheduled ancient monument.
Conditions
The Solar PV equipment must, so far as is practicable, be sited so as to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building.
The Solar PV equipment must, so far as is practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area and Solar equipment no longer needed for micro-generation must be removed as soon as is practicable.
Ground Mounted
Only solar with a maximum solar surface area of 9m2 can be installed.
Only one ground mounted solar system can be present within the curtilage of any one building.
The solar must not exceed 4m in height.
The Solar must not be installed within 5m of the boundary curtilage.
Planning permission is required if the solar is within the curtilage of a listed building or on a site designated as a scheduled ancient monument.
Conditions
The ground mounted solar must, so far as is practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area and
Ground mounted solar which is no longer needed for micro generation must be removed as soon as is reasonably practicable.