NEW RULES REMOVE PLANNING BARRIER TO INSTALLING SOLAR PV SYSTEMS ON AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
A major planning obstacle has been removed for farmers wishing to install solar photovoltaic systems on their buildings – a move which could lead to many more agricultural businesses taking the solar energy plunge, according to one of Norfolk’s leading agricultural renewable energy experts.
The new rules mean that from 15th April, almost all roof-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays no longer need planning permission, but can be installed under ‘Permitted Development Rights’
Chris Abel, of renewable energy specialist Abel Energy, which has installed such systems at many East Anglian farms, says that the removal of the need to seek full planning permission could open the way for many more farmers to make the move towards generating their own electricity, and benefitting from the Government’s Feed-In Tariff.
The new Permitted Development Rights are aimed specifically at agricultural businesses, which are now able to install up to one megawatt of roof-mounted panels – equivalent around 8000 square metres of roof space – without planning permission. This is 20 times the previous limit of 50kW.
“Many farms have already realised the benefits of fitting solar photovoltaic arrays, both to cut their own energy bills and to gain extra income through the Feed-In Tariff,” said Mr Abel. “But many more will have held back because they didn’t want to face the complexities of the planning system.
“This new move means it is much easier for them to go ahead and take the renewable energy path, and we predict it will lead to many more agricultural businesses doing so.”
The new Permitted Development Rights are subject to ‘prior approval’, which means that farm businesses only need to submit a written description of the proposed installation and a site plan. Local authorities then have 28 days in which to raise concerns about ‘design or external appearance, in particular the impact of glare on occupiers of neighbouring land. If they raise no objections during this period, the installation can go ahead.
The new rules come into effect on 15th April, and apply only to building-mounted installations of up to 1 megawatt.
More details at www.abelenergy.co.uk.