My best efforts to get planning permission for a solar panel have been thwarted by Lambeth council. Given the cost of a solar panel hot water system, it seems absurd to be expected to pay another 25% or more of the cost to get a professional to do the planning application. So I have submitted the planning application myself. After all, in this instance we are talking about one panel on the roof, which will not be visible from the road. In fact this project must rank as one of the simplest projects you need planning permission for.
In April 2008 the Government passed legislation which in most cases removed the need for planning permission for the installation of solar panels. The exceptions are if your building is listed or in a conservation area. Slight problem here: my house is grade 2 listed (despite having been flattened during WWII) and in a conservation area.
However, Lambeth council planning deparment fail to apply common sense to this issue. They stick to the rules and in response to any queries about whether the process they follow is reasonable, they reply that there cannot be one set of rules for me and one set for everyone else.
After the fourth or fifth request for yet more drawings to specific scales (even of the building before the solar panel was put up) over and above the ones required by the online planning application process, I capitulated and gave in.
Lambeth council, you should be publicly shamed. You should apply common sense to the process. You don't put any money towards grants for solar panels and you appear to do your best to stop the man on the street making his contribution to reducing carbon footprint.
Have any readers had a go at this themselves?
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2 comments:
Hi Edwin,
I am a producer at the BBC. I would be very interested to know more about this.
Please could you give me a call on 07967-972 082.
Thanks very much,
Nicky Bolster
You may find that if the solar panel company can give you specifics on the size of the panel and where it will actually be mounted, then you may be able to source a local person who can prepare the plans required for 'cash in hand' rather than paying more for the solar panel company to produce it.
Trouble is I doubt whether the solar panel company will give up the precise information so easily and worst, if when they fit they deviate from the plan, you may be instructed to take down the installation by the same council.
Good luck anyway.
Jonathan.
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