Solar panels and planning permission

piraka

Has anyone dealt with planning on the issue of installing solar panels on the roof of the house?

I am considering the installation of solar water heating panels. I rang the local planning office to check that there was no issue for installation of the panels. They told me that I would needed planning permission. I was concerned with no planning required for a extensions at the back of houses, why do they required for panels on the roof.

I contacted my local public representative who in turn contacted the council. My representative came back and informed me that due to the nature of the application the first case would require €80 application fee with no charge for subsequent applications of this nature.

I would not be surprised if everyone is charged the €80.

Considering the nature of the installation and the requirement to reduce our carbon emissions there should be no charges levied

Cuauhtemoc

Considering the nature of the installation and the requirement to reduce our carbon emissions there should be no charges levied

Or planning permission required.

piraka

I was told that there was no planning permission required, but a fee of €80 was!

piraka

Apparently the €80 is a wavier of the planning application

Cuauhtemoc

Hmm. Interesting. What type of panels are they?

The poster in this thread was told that he needed full planning for the solar tubes. Are yours the flat panel ones?

Link

Unless its different policies from different county councils. Which council was it?

I'd rather pay 80 euro than get planning permission. Though we shouldn't have to do either.

C.

piraka

On the initial query by me, it was full planning required according to the council.

On getting a public rep to talk to the council, the council told the public rep that planning application would be waived on payment of €80.

The €80 was required on the first application of this nature by the public.

piraka

On the initial query by me, it was full planning required according to the council.

On getting a public rep to talk to the council, the council told the public rep that planning application would be waived on payment of €80.

The €80 was required on the first application of this nature by the public to the council.

damiand

Hi Guys.

Bad idea talking to your local public representative. They genearlly know little or nothing, phone the planning department and then tell you half of what they were told.

The question, do I need planning permission to install solar tubes/ solar panels - Yes.

However planning authorities are busy and accordingly do not want additional planning applications being lodged. Planning application whether for single dwellings (65 euro) or garden sheds (34 euro) cost significantly more to process than the fees charged for processing. Think minimum multiples of ten.

Consequently you may be advised that the installation of solar tubes/ solar panels in the roof to the rear of ones house does not require that a planning application be lodged.

The 80 euro fee is for a section 5 (I think thats the correct section) declaration where the Planning Authority tell you whether what is proposed does or does not constitutte development, ie whether planning permission is required or not.

I can say with certainty that the installation of solar tubes/ solar panels in the front of ones house does require planning.

Hope the above is helpful.

---

Planning rots my brain !!!!!

Cuauhtemoc

Who defines front and back?
We have a porch on both sides and can drive up to either side.

In any case we'd be looking to put them on the side of the house( L Shaped). I'd imagine that will require permission as well?

gerrycollins

damiand wrote:

I can say with certainty that the installation of solar tubes/ solar panels in the front of ones house does require planning.

this is correct for most councils

any changes to the front of the house need full planning approval the rear does not as is will not impact on the visual of the house that everyone sees

dunno about the sides tho sorry

the front of the house is devised as "front elevation" in the plans submitted orginally and the same goes for "rear elevation" so on so on

the only issue with not seeking approved planning permission is when the house is resold it could be an issue then,not likely but any structual changes(ie can the roof support the extra weight) might impact on any surveyors study of the house

damiand

The front of the house is generally where the entrance door is located (facing the public road).

In practice a house is said to have no rear where exempted works/extension can be added if there is a road at both non gable sides of the house. Again the drawings submitted for planning may provide some clue to the front/rear of the dwelling. But regardless of what the drawings say the road side of the dwelling is always classed as the front of the dwelling.

SolMate

Found this thread in the archives and thought I'd resurrect it as it's something I'm now getting into investigating for myself - thinking of putting up tubes or panles (not sure yet) on my house in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Co. Council area.

Anyone know if this is still a situation where, depending on who you happen to get on the phone when you ring the council, different rules are made up on the spot for you? Different councils making their own rules and so on...

Since the Govt. is supposed to be encouraging solar through their grant scheme, is there any indication that something will be done to standardise the rules and perhaps take away the need for planning permission for solar flat or tube panels on the roof?

TIA!

damiand

The same answer should be given by all planners. The unfortunate thing is people phone the local planning department and end up talking to an office person with no technical training who advises you that they do need permission while infact they may not. Always as for a planner.

piraka

Found this in my travels

http://www.johngormley.com/wp/2006/06/13/solar-panels-and-planning-permission/

As always they are looking into it.

SolMate

Thanks for the replies guys...ain't it discouraging!

S

Takeshi_Kovacs

Fraking extortion is what it is!!
Not much of an incentive to get people to save energy..