New consultation: Proposed changes to planning rules in England

The proposals in the consultation ‘Permitted development rights: supporting temporary recreational campsites, renewable energy and film-making consultation’ would create opportunities for both domestic and non-domestic property owners to create additional revenue and become more sustainable. They include:

• Relaxing rules to allow solar equipment to be installed at both domestic and nondomestic buildings, eg stand-alone solar panels on residential flat roofs and walls fronting highways in conservation areas.
• Upping the amount of electricity that can be generated from solar panels on nondomestic buildings on land in designated areas such as national parks and conservation areas.
• Allowing, subject to conditions, solar canopies not more than four metres high in non-domestic, ground-level, off-street car parks such as those at supermarkets and retail parks.
• Power for local authorities (or those they authorise) to instal electric vehicle charging points.
• A new right, subject to conditions, for landowners to set up temporary campsites to allow more stay-at-home holidays.

The changes would not apply outside England. It remains to be seen whether Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit.

The consultation ends on 25 April 2023.

Operative date

• Now

Recommendation

• Check out the consultation on the GOV.UK website.