As a result of NAEG’s comments on the Draft PCNPA Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on Renewable Energy, PCNPA Officers have accepted that solar panels and solar photovoltaics are allowed to be installed without planning permission….

(up to 100% coverage, and not to a maximum of 9 sq m as formerly advised) on roofs of a dwelling or a building within the curtilage of a dwelling (even if they front a highway) anywhere within the National Park, including within Conservation Areas.

(This is conditional upon them not protruding more than 200m from the plane of the roof or the highest part of the solar equipment not protruding higher than the highest part of the roof excluding chimneys)

In detail:

In response to NAEG’s objection that the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance stated that planning permission was required for the installation, alteration or replacement of Solar PV or Solar thermal equipment on a dwelling house or a building situated within the curtilage of a dwelling house within a Conservation Area, Officers have said “We apologise for the incorrect wording on this statement and have corrected it to be in line with the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2009 “

In response to NAEG’s objection to the limitation in the Draft SPG of 9 sq m of area of Solar PV or Solar thermal equipment on the roof of a dwelling house or a buiding situated within the curtilage of a dwelling house within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Officers have said “The wording of this statement was incorrect and has been corrected in line with the Town and Country Planning (General Permiitted Development (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2009”

Despite the acceptance of our points, we still think that the guidance is confusing about what is and is not allowed. We have therefore written the PCNPA requesting clarification of the guidance. See our letter at http://naeg.org.uk/resources/111102-Letter-to-Martina-Dunne.pdf

More details about this are listed under Local Development Plan, in an article entitled NAEG Comments to PCNPA on Renewable Energy.