Now easier to become eco-friendly

Apr 16 2008 by Peter McEvoy for The Journal

IF you are keen to do your bit for the environment, then April 6 was an important and exciting milestone. From now on, some of the planning requirements have been relaxed to make it easier for you to install certain types of renewable energy systems for your home or business.

The Government has been looking at ways of reducing the UK’s carbon emissions. Householders’ energy usage currently represents around 27% of the country’s total amount. Installing small-scale energy devices for your home or business might help to reduce this figure.

The new rules now class the installation of some domestic microgeneration devices as permitted development, which does not require planning permission.

By relaxing the planning requirements, the Government hopes to encourage more people to join the existing 100,000 householders who have already added microgeneration equipment to their homes.

There is a cautionary note: the revised rules give do not give you complete freedom. One of the aims of the planning system is to consider the impact of a proposal on others and green developments are no different.

For example, in a recent appeal case, a planning inspector agreed with a council’s decision to refuse permission for a domestic wind turbine as it would have an unacceptable impact on the people nearby.

As a result, the new regulations for microgeneration schemes are very precise about the size, position and type of devices that are classed as permitted development.

If your proposal does not meet these criteria, then you will still need to apply for planning permission.

This means that it is a good idea to seek professional advice regarding whether or not your proposal would be classed as permitted development before beginning any work.

If the local planning authority agrees that you do not need permission, then you should get this answer confirmed in writing (or ideally a certificate of lawfulness of proposed development).

Peter McEvoy is a town planner at Ward Hadaway law firm in Newcastle.