Government outlines plans to remove red tape for on-site renewables

The relaxation of the planning rules could lead to wind turbines of up to 15 metres being permitted in locations such as industrial estates and office buildings being re-clad with solar panels.

The proposals would also allow councils and electric car drivers to install electric car charger points on streets and in car parks without needing to make a planning application.

Announcing the new rules, Housing and Planning Minister John Healey called on all developers, landlords, homeowners and tenants to join in a "national crusade" to tackle climate change.

He also said the proposals would help “save up to hundreds of pounds in fuel bills” for those installing on-site renewables. “Our planning rules need to catch up with changing technologies and allow people to take the small measures that make big differences,” he said.

However, he said relaxation of the planning rules would come with strict caveats so that permitted developments did not become a nuisance. “I am putting in place strong safeguards in relation to noise levels, size, location and the potential impact on an area,” he said.

On industrial and business premises, current planning rules would beamended to make it easier to install renewables, such as wind turbines,ground, water and air source heat pumps, solar panels, biomass systemsand combined heat and power systems.

Agricultural and forestrypremises, meanwhile, would find the rules relaxed for housing anaerobicdigestion systems, biomass boilers and hydro-turbines for hydro systems.

Tocomply with the new rules, equipment and its installers would have tomeet the standards of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, acertification set up by the Government in partnership with themicrogeneration industry and consumer bodies to ensure the quality andreliability of installations.

The proposals forms part of the Government's Renewable Energy Strategy, which aims to help the UK meet its carbon emission reduction targets.

Almost half of the UK’s carbon emissions come from buildings, but it is estimated that more than 30 per cent of the country's electricity could be generated from renewables by 2030. The UK, meanwhile, is committed to sourcing  15 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2020.

Next year, the Government will be introducing its Clean Energy Cashback scheme, or Feed-in Tariffs, which will mean businesses and individuals will get paid to produce their own renewable energy. The Government wants to ensure the planning system does not get in the way of the rollout of small-scale renewable generation.

"We've already had an overhaul of the planning system for big energy projects and now we're working on the smaller scale. Small scale renewable generation will contribute to us meeting our renewable energy target for 2020 and making sure we cut our carbon emissions," said Energy Minister Lord Hunt.

The launch of today's proposals kicks off a three-month consultation period.