Is planning permission required to erect a wind turbine, solar panel or other micro renewable energy device at a house?

Sheffield City Council recognises that householders have an important role to play in choosing to use renewable sources of energy production.  Enquiries are starting to grow as it is becoming easier to purchase small-scale wind turbines and solar panels.  This guidance is designed to assist anyone considering changing to a renewable energy source, by explaining what permissions might be required and providing links to other sources of advice.  (For completely new developments, renewable energy sources should be considered as part of the original design.)

 

The Government has extended permitted development rights to domestic microgeneration from the 6th April 2008.  This applies to solar thermal panels and photovoltaic panels, ground source heat pumps, water source heat pumps, biomass heating system and combined heat and power systems.

 

The Government has not yet extended permitted development rights to wind turbines and air source heat pumps due to currently unresolved concerns over noise and vibration. The Government, in association with the micro-generation industry, are now actively seeking to develop a certification scheme, which covers standards for both products and their installation.  Sheffield’s interim guidance on these two methods of generation will remain in place until the situation changes.    

 

Grants may be available to assist in the installation of renewable technologies, subject to satisfying certain requirements.  Further details of grants available to improve the efficiency of your home are provided by the Energy Savings Trust.  It may also be worth comparing the net cost with buying a device from those retail warehouses or shops that sell them.

 

Grants are also available to improve the insulation and heating of your home via the Warm Front initiative.

 

Please follow the links below for further details:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The government has set a fee for planning applications for the "enlargement, improvement or alteration of (an) existing dwellinghouse" (Currently £135.00, increasing to £150 from 6th April 2008).