Written question asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party) on Tuesday, 7 January 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 January 2020. It was answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 January 2020 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Microgeneration: Permitted Development Rights

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of permitted development rights for the deployment of ground mounted solar arrays which rotate to track the movement of the sun.

Answer: To facilitate the take up of renewable energy there is a range of permitted development rights for micro-generation from renewable energy sources. These include stand-alone solar equipment up to 4 metres in height. The rights apply both within the curtilage of residential and non-residential premises and are set out in Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. There are no current plans to alter the permitted development rights for microgeneration renewable energy.

Secondary information