An investigation carried out by Renewable Energy Installer magazine has discovered that many councils across the country are still requiring solar installers to seek planning permission for their installations.
Applications doubled
In 2008 the Labour government amended planning legislation to make the installation of solar panels easier for most homeowners. This was done in an attempt to boost the take up of this and other renewable forms of energy. However despite this, it seems that the number of planning applications for this type of work has actually doubled from 2009 to 2010.
251 councils supplied information to the magazine under the Freedom of Information Act and just 41 of these agreed that it was not necessary to apply for planning for the installation of solar technology, as it came under permitted development.
A further rule change has recently been made to allow the installation of solar panels in conservation areas, however some of the applications which were refused were for this reason. Other people are being asked to submit planning applications which are unnecessary, wasting time and money, according to the magazine.
Building regulations
Furthermore one council in Cumbria has insisted that all residents with solar panels need to make a Buildings Regulations application at £100 each. One local solar panel installer Eco Environments has been quoted as saying that they had never come across another council in the UK which has asked for this.
Current legislation says that the work does not require building regulations as long as it is installed by a certified installer. David Hunt from Eco Environments has commented that other councils have all been happy for them to self certify under the Competent Persons scheme.
