Planning permission is no longer required to install commercial and agricultural solar PV under new regulations which came into effect this weekend (6 April 2012). The new rules allow certain commercial solar installations to be treated as Permitted Development and will also mean that ground mounted systems up to 9m2 will be able to go ahead without a planning application. Also exempt are mounted systems that do not protrude more than 200mm from the roof and at least 1m away from the external edge of the roof, making life easier for those considering a project.
Steve Catney Planning & Environmental Consultant with JHWalter Energy commented, “We think that this change opens a window of opportunity for those that have been considering installing PV but who have possibly been put off by the rollercoaster of feed-in tariffs, which from 1 April were reduced”. Steve added, “There is a further tariff reduction proposed from July 2012. There is now a window of opportunity to install a PV system with a potential return on investment of between 10% and 14%, while reducing your carbon footprint.
