{"id":8481,"date":"2024-01-08T10:21:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T10:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solarenergyuk.org\/?post_type=news&p=8481"},"modified":"2024-01-08T11:13:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:13:44","slug":"plan-to-ease-solar-installations-on-historic-homes-welcomed","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/solarenergyuk.org\/news\/plan-to-ease-solar-installations-on-historic-homes-welcomed\/","title":{"rendered":"Plan to ease solar installations on historic homes welcomed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Solar Energy\u00a0UK<\/strong>\u00a0
<\/strong>8 January 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image by \u00a9Historic England.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solar industry has praised the Government\u2019s intention to make installing solar panels on listed buildings more straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A review published last week considers how the 350,000 listed homes and 2.8 million in conservation areas can be more easily adapted to improve their energy efficiency.[1] Doing so, \u201cin a sensitive fashion is key to ensuring their long-term survival,\u201d notes a ministerial forward, as occupants are paying higher energy bills than other households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review, conducted by the Departments for Energy Security and Net Zero, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Culture (DLUHC), Media and Sport, broadly concurs with Solar Energy UK\u2019s view that rules on installing solar panels on them are unduly complex and restrictive.[2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it states, there was a common perception among contributors to the review that, \u201cObtaining planning permission or listed building consent took \u2018too long\u2019, which not only led to frustration but could also mean losing out on financial support. It was suggested that some people have been put off from pursuing retrofit measures for their home by their perception that the planning process is too complex and uncertain to navigate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As things stand, certain energy upgrades require planning permission, some require separate listed buildings consent, whereas others require neither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A way to cut through such red tape is already available, via Listed Building Consent Orders (LBCOs), which can provide permission for certain alterations or extensions to listed buildings in England. Local Listed Building Consent Orders (LLBCOs) may also be issued by English local authorities. However, so far only one has liberalised the regime for solar installations: Kensington and Chelsea Council.[3] This allows panels to be installed if they do not face roads and do not protrude more than 20cm from the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review speaks positively about extending such provisions, not least because there is \u201csignificant variance\u201d in how applications for solar photovoltaics are handled across the nation, \u201csometimes owing to poor planning knowledge and\/ or practices\u201d, it adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an initial response, DLUHC will work with Historic England to issue clearer guidance on which energy efficiency measures require planning permission or listed building consent. Historic England will also publish planning advice for councils on climate change and historic buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A consultation will follow on the role of LLBCOs and the potential for an LBCO to be made granting consent for certain upgrades across the whole of England. This could include solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is plain to see that there is far too much bureaucracy getting in the way of installing solar panels and other energy upgrades, where they can be done in an appropriate and respectful fashion, on England\u2019s older buildings. So I am glad to see that the government is pushing forward with making the confusing series of existing rules clearer, while easing them in the longer term,\u201d said Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government\u2019s plan follows legislation issued late last year, The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023<\/a>), which extends permitted development rights for solar power to domestic flat roofs and most commercial buildings, including the establishment of a new permitted development right for solar canopies.[4]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[1] Adapting historic homes for energy efficiency: a review of the barriers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2] Restrictive rules for domestic solar energy \u2018make not a jot of sense\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3] Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: Local Listed Building Consent Order<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4] Solar Energy UK welcomes loosening of planning rules<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured image by \u00a9Historic England.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 ENDS \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s notes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

news@solarenergyuk.org<\/a> | solarenergyuk.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Solar Energy\u00a0UK\u00a08 January 2024 Featured image by \u00a9Historic England. The solar industry has praised the Government\u2019s intention to make installing solar panels on listed buildings more straightforward. A review published last week considers how the 350,000 listed homes and 2.8 million in conservation areas can be more easily adapted to improve their energy efficiency.[1] Doing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8485,"template":"","custom_tag":[],"class_list":["post-8481","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPlan to ease solar installations on historic homes welcomed • Solar Energy UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/solarenergyuk.org\/news\/plan-to-ease-solar-installations-on-historic-homes-welcomed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Plan to ease solar installations on historic homes welcomed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Government plans 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