Solar developers back planning reforms for historic homes

Government moves to streamline “confusing” planning rules for energy efficiency works on historic buildings have been welcomed by the solar industry.

The government has published a cross-departmental review of the barriers, which make it harder to adapt heritage homes for energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures.

It states that the planning system is not a “significant barrier” to installing energy efficiency improvements and low carbon heating technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps, in historic homes.

However, it concedes that the planning system “can be streamlined further” to make it easier for owners of historic homes to introduce such measures.
It adds: “More is needed to enable energy efficiency improvements in listed buildings and homes in conservation areas and the government is keen to take further action.”

The review found that many owners and occupants of listed and other historic properties see planning as one of the key barriers for installing energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures.

While certain energy upgrades require planning permission, some separate listed buildings consent, others need neither, it says.

There is “confusion” amongst the public about the type of approval required needed to install measures, says the review.

It also cites the findings of research carried out by the government’s heritage agency Historic England (HE), which showed significant variance among local planning authorities about how they handled applications for solar photovoltaics in conservation areas and on or near listed buildings.

While some councils granted almost all such applications, others were much more restrictive, sometimes owing to poor planning knowledge and or practices, HE found.

The review says the government will consult on moves to enable the more widespread use across England of Local Listed Building Consent Orders, which would enable homeowners to install home energy upgrades without having to apply to their council for planning permission.

In addition, it says that as part of a wider streamlining of the planning system, the government will introduce a National Development Management Policy for improvements to historic buildings, which will apply to all councils in England.

Responding to the publication of the review, Solar Energy UK (SEUK) praised the government’s intention to make the process of installing solar panels on listed buildings more straightforward.

Chris Hewett, chief executive of SEUK, said: “It 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’s 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.”