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DC Casebook: Householder Development - Solar panels secured in conservation area

Householder development

Planning, 16 May 2008

The retention of two solar panels and Velux roof lights on the rear elevation of a house in a Nottinghamshire conservation area has been permitted after an inspector carefully weighed their impact against the need for renewable energy.

He recognised that the solar panels had a harmful impact on the conservation area's character. However, he felt that their impact was limited because the property was seen in the context of late 20th century houses and they did not affect the most sensitive and public views from the conservation area. He also observed that the roof tiles on the dwelling were not the originals, again limiting the impact of the panels when viewed in the context of the area as a whole.

The inspector placed weight on the fact that the panels allowed the appellant's heating system to be switched off for around seven months a year. The environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy development were an important consideration irrespective of the scale of provision, he opined. The potential to cut carbon emissions by reducing the need to burn fossil fuels outweighed the harm to the conservation area, he determined.

DCS Number 100-054-712

Inspector Peter Willows; Hearing.