Planning and Building Control

Planning permission

While planning permission will not be required for most homes ahead of an energy efficiency project, it is important to check if you do need permission ahead of starting works. Failure to obtain relevant permissions or comply with planning regulations could lead to enforcement action. What enforcement action is taken will be dependent on factors such as what breach has occurred and which local authority the property is situated within.

We know that it can be difficult to work out what permissions are needed for your home, so we have developed the following guidance to help you:

Insulation installation in loft
Insulation installation in loft

1. Permitted Development?

In the following table you will find guidance on sustainable technologies categorised by the three main planning designations within the Greater Cambridge Area, with information on when planning permission is required or whether the proposal would be permitted development (i.e., does not need an application for planning permission). The 3 main planning designations are:

  1. A single-family home in an area with no designations
    1. A flat
    2. A house
    3. A single family home in a conservation area

At the end of this section are details on how to apply for planning permission if your changes require it. This guide relates solely to the planning process, you may wish to check whether any other permissions and consents are required.

You can go straight to the relevant advice for each of the above property types using the following links, scroll down the table to find the type of energy saving measure you are interested in installing:

Listed Buildings

If you live in a listed building, we advise you seek pre application advice if the changes affect part of the listed fabric of the building Listed building consent will be required for solar panels, ground source heat pumps and may be required for new pipework which accompanies new boilers and heating controls, loft, and cavity wall insulation. Installation of an air source heat pump within the site boundary of a Listed Building requires planning permission, as well as listed building consent. More advice can be found here: Listed Buildings (greatercambridgeplanning.org)

Curtilage

Curtilage means an area of land attached to a house, which forms one enclosure with that house, for example a garden or yard, and includes any closely associated buildings and structures.

Permitted Development
  1. A single family homes in an area with no planning designations

(Homes outside of conservation areas)

You can find out if your home is within a conservation area by checking the maps here:

Conservation Area Appraisals (greatercambridgeplanning.org)

a) a Flat (either purpose built or conversion of a house or other building)

Planning Process

The table below sets out where various sustainable technologies would be considered permitted development on a flat and highlights those which require planning permission. Details can be found at the end of the table on how to apply for planning permission along with links to the Council’s validation checklist which sets out what you need to submit with your application.

Proposal

Solar photo voltaic (PV) panels or solar thermal equipment that is attached to a residential building (main home building or one in curtilage, for example a garden shed)

Permitted if the panels:
  • Protrude no more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall
  • Are no higher than the highest part of the original roof (excluding any chimney)
Conditions:
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical.

Proposal

Solar PV panels or solar thermal equipment that is free standing (for example in a garden)

Permitted if:
  • No more than one /array
  • No higher than 4m above ground level
  • Not within 5m of the curtilage boundary
  • Area of the panels does not exceed 9m2
  • Any dimension of an array of panels is not more than 3m2
Conditions:
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical.

Proposal

Air source heat pumps (ASHP)

Permitted if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • Only one installation is permitted (any more than one unit requires permission);
  • The volume of the unit must not exceed 0.6 cubic metres
  • At least 1m in from the site boundary
  • It is not installed on a pitched roof
  • If installed on a flat roof the equipment must be located 1m from the external edge of the roof
  • A wind turbine is not already installed on the property
  • It is attached to any wall NOT fronting a highway (pavement or road) or, ifit is attached to a wall that fronts a highway (pavement or road), then it needs to be located on any part of that wall at ground floor level
Conditions:
  • The equipment is solely used for heating purposes
  • It is sited to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical

Proposal

Ground source heat pumps (vertical and horizontal ground loops)

Permitted Development

???

Proposal

Wind turbine

Permitted on the building if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the building
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine (including blades) would not exceed 3m above the highest part of the roof (excluding chimney) or would not exceed 15m in height (from ground level)
  • The blades are higher than 5m from the ground
  • The swept area of any blade would not exceed 3.8m2
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable
Permitted as stand-alone wind turbine on the ground if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the any building on the site
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine would not exceed 11.1m in height (from ground level)
  • The blades are higher than 5m from the ground
  • It is located in a position which is less than a distance equivalent to the overall height (including blades) of the stand-alone wind turbine plus 10% of its height when measured from any point along the boundary of the curtilage
  • The swept area of any blade would exceed 3.8m2
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable

Proposal

Solid Wall Insulation (external)

Permitted

See table on p15 for streamlined planning application submission requirements for proposals for external insulated render

Permitted
Conditions:
  • Flats - appearance of windows to be the same as existing windows

b) a Single Family House

Planning Process

The table below sets out where various sustainable technologies would be considered permitted development on a house and highlights those which require planning permission from the Local Planning Authority. Details can be found at the end of the section on how to apply for planning permission along with links to the Council’s validation checklist, which sets out what you need to submit with your application.

Note: For this purpose, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) of no more than 6 occupants are considered dwelling houses for the purposes of the permitted development rights that they benefit from.

Proposal

Solar PV panels or solar thermal equipment that are attached to a residential building (main home building or one in curtilage, for example on a garden shed)

Permitted if:
  • Protrude no more than 200mm from the roofslope or wall
  • Are no higher than the highest part of the original roof. (excluding any chimney)
Conditions:
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical

Proposal

Solar PV panels or solar thermal equipment that is free standing (for example in a garden)

Permitted if:
  • No more than one panel/array
  • No higher than 4m above ground level
  • Not within 5m of the site boundary
  • Area of the panels not to exceed 9m2
  • Any dimension of an array of panels is not more than3m
Conditions:
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical

Proposal

Air source heat pumps (ASHP)

Permitted if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards  (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • Only one installation is permitted (any more than one unit requires permission);
  • The volume of the unit must not exceed 0.6 cubic metres
  • At least 1m from the site boundary
  • It is not installed on a pitched roof
  • Installed on a flat roof and should be located 1m from the external edge of the roof
  • A wind turbine is not already installed on the property
  • It is attached to any wall NOT fronting a highway (pavement or road) or, if it is attached to a wall that fronts a highway (pavement or road) then it needs to be located on any part of that wall at ground floor level
  • The equipment is solely used for heating purposes
  • It is sited to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical

Proposal

Wind turbine

Permitted on the building if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the building
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine (including blades) would not exceed 3m above the highest part of the roof (excluding chimney) or would not exceed 15m in height (from ground level)
  • The blades are higher than 5m from the ground
  • The swept area of any blade would not exceed 3.8m2
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable
Permitted as stand-alone turbine if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the building
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine would not exceed 11.1m in height (from ground level)
  • The blades are higher than 5m from the ground
  • It is located in a position which is less than a distance equivalent to the overall height (including blades) of the stand-alone wind turbine plus 10% of its height when measured from any point along the boundary of the curtilage
  • The swept area of any blade would exceed 3.8m2
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable

Proposal

Solid Wall Insulation (external)

Permitted

See table on p15 for streamlined planning application submission requirements for proposals for external insulated render

2. A single family home in a conservation area (without an article 4 direction)

Planning Process

The table below sets out where various sustainable technologies would be considered permitted development on a house and highlights those which require planning permission from the Local Planning Authority. Details can be found at the end of the section on how to apply for planning permission along with links to the Council’s validation checklist, which sets out what you need to submit with your application.

If your home is in a conservation area which has article 4 direction in place, such as the Accordia site off Brooklands Avenue in Cambridge, this removes certain permitted development rights which will be listed in the Legal direction document Article 4 Direction (greatercambridgeplanning.org)

Proposal

Solar PV panels or solar thermal equipment that Is attached to a residential building (main home building or one in curtilage, for example a garden shed)

Permitted if:
  • Not on a wall which fronts the highway (pavement or road)
  • Protrude no more than 200mm from a pitched roofslope or wall
  • Are no higher than the highest part of the original roof (excluding any chimney)
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building
  • Must not be installed on a wall which fronts a highway
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical

Proposal

Solar PV panels or solar thermal equipment that is free standing (for example in a garden)

Permitted if:
  • No more than one panel/array
  • No higher than 4m above ground level
  • Not within 5m of the site boundary
  • It is no closer to the highway than the part of the building that is nearest to the highway
  • Area of the panels not to exceed 9m2
  • Any dimension of an array of panels is not more than3m
  • Must be sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical.

Proposal

Air source heat pumps (ASHP)

Permitted if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is only one ASHP proposed
  • No wind turbine is already installed on the property
  • The volume of the unit must not exceed 0.6 cubic metres
  • at least 1m in from the site boundary
  • It is not installed on a pitched roof
  • Installed on a flat roof it should be located at least 1m from the external edge of the roof
  • The unit is not installed higher than the the ground storey
  • Not on a wall or roof that faces a highway (pavement or road) or positioned nearer to any highway than the building
  • The unit is solely used for heating purposes
  • It is sited to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practical.

Proposal

Wind turbine

Permitted on the building if:
  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the building
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine (including blades) would not exceed 3m above the highest part of the roof (excluding chimney) or would not exceed 15m in height (from ground level).
  • The blades are higher that 5m from the ground
  • The swept area of any blade would not exceed 3.8m2
  • Any part of the turbine is not within 5 metres of any site boundary
  • It is not attached to a wall or roof slope which fronts a highway
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable

Permitted as stand-alone turbine if:

  • The installation complies with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (which can be found at https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MCS-020.pdf)
  • There is no other turbine on the building
  • An Air Source Heat Pump is not installed on the same building
  • The highest part of the turbine would not exceed 11.1m in height (from ground level)
  • The blades are higher than 5m from the ground
  • It is located in a position which is less than a distance equivalent to the overall height (including blades) of the stand-alone wind turbine plus 10% of its height when measured from any point along the boundary of the curtilage
  • The swept area of any blade would exceed 3.8m2
  • The wind turbine is no nearer to any highway than the part of the dwelling house which is nearest to that highway
  • The blades shall be made of non-reflective material
  • It is sited to minimise its effect on the external appearance and amenity of the area
  • Equipment which is no longer needed for microgeneration shall be removed as soon as reasonably practicable

Proposal

Solid Wall Insulation (external)

Permitted

Planning permission required

Proposal

Double Glazing

Permitted
Conditions:
  • Dwellinghouse - materials used to be of similar appearance to the existing ones
  • Flats - appearance of windows to be the same as existing windows

Applying for planning permission

The best way to apply is through the government’s Planning Portal. It allows you to complete your application form, upload supporting documents, calculate and pay fees in one place.  You will need to submit an application for full planning permission for works to a flat and an application for householder planning permission for single family houses.

If you can't apply online, you can download our planning forms from the Planning Portal.

You can check the cost of your application using the fee calculator on the Planning Portal.

Every application we receive goes through a validation process to check that you've provided all the required information. If you fail to do submit all the required plans and documents, we can't pass your application to a planning officer for assessment.

A copy of what is required with an application for full planning permission can be found here on our local validation checklist: List of required documents for validation (greatercambridgeplanning.org)

A streamlined set of planning application submission requirements for proposals for external insulated render is set out on the next page.

We also provide Householder and Small Business Planning Advice (greatercambridgeplanning.org) if you need further help.

Additional Resources you may wish to look at include:

Guidance from LETI which is helpful generally for retrofits: www.leti.london/retrofit

External Wall Insulation - Inside a Conservation Area

Is Planning Permission Required?

Yes - (advised to seek householder pre-application advice regarding likelihood of gaining permission)

External Wall Insulation - Outside a Conservation Area
Planning Application Submission Requirements
  • 1:1250 or 1:2500 site location plan, with the site edged in red.
  • A square-on photo of each elevation where the external wall insulation is to be applied. The photos should be labelled to show how each different material on each elevation is to be treated.
  • A product information sheet indicating the render type (depth) and colour finish.
  • A short written description regarding the works.

(note: floor plans, site plans and sections are not required for validation purposes)

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