Making your home more environmentally friendly

We are working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and independent experts iChoosr to give homeowners the opportunity to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage with Solar Together Wiltshire (solartogether.co.uk) (opens new window).

This group-buying scheme offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as offering battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, as well as increase their independence from the grid.

Some media reports have focused on customers impacted by Green Energy Together (GET UK)'s failure to deliver to some customers in the UK. This is not a company used in Wiltshire as part of the Solar Together scheme.

With regards to the Solar Together Scheme in Wiltshire (during 2022-2023), both installers used, Infinity Renewables and EE Renewables, had great success and satisfaction levels from customers, with over 80% of customers saying that they would recommend Solar Together to their friends and family. Overall, there were 712 installations in Wiltshire, which equates to over 12,900 tonnes of carbon avoided over 25 years (the equivalent to roughly 7,000 cars off roads for a year) and with more than £7.5 million invested in the scheme from our residents. Only 3.6% of customers contacted iChoosr with a complaint and we are satisfied that they have worked to keep in touch with customers to understand and resolve the issues.

Installers working with Solar Together are in a contractual relationship with iChoosr, and the qualification process for the installers involves multiple elements including:

evidence of MCS certification plus either HIES or RECC certification
evidence of a CRM system that enables them to manage a high volume of customers
evidence that the installer can realise an Insurance Backed Guarantee for workmanship
evidence of Insurance policies that cover liability, works and indemnity
annual accounts
details of organisation and employees
evidence of customer satisfaction results
financial due diligence which is performed by an independent specialist

Before its qualification in February 2022 GET UK had successfully installed around 1,000 PV installations in multiple programmes; and was qualified and approved to participate most recently in February 2022. Since this time, its performance has deteriorated, and it has not been qualified to bid in further auctions with Solar Together. iChoosr are working hard, alongside industry bodies such as MCS and HIES as well as the councils where these customers have been impacted to work through the issues they are facing as GET UK customers. For those customers who are seeking a deposit refund where there was no installation, iChoosr are helping by highlighting how they can get their deposit refunded which depends on their circumstances.

Solar panels, planning permission and other consents

As part of our commitment to tackling the Climate Emergency, planning policy encourages the use of sustainable options for powering your home, wherever possible and appropriate. One common way to make use of renewable energy is to install solar panels on your property, fixed to a wall or rooftop, or in a ground-mounted, standalone installation.

Use this page to check if you will need to make an application for planning permission or other consents for different types and locations of solar installation, and to understand the principles we will follow when assessing applications. Select a topic below to read more.

Circumstances where you might need planning permission

The regulations which apply, known as The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (the "GPDO") depend on where you are proposing to locate your solar panel installation.

"Curtilage" is the land which forms part and parcel with the house. Usually it is the area of land within which the house sits or to which it is attached such as the garden. Although for some houses, especially in the case of properties with large grounds, it may be a much smaller area.

The above would only apply if permitted development rights have not been removed via a planning condition or Article 4 Direction. You can clarify whether permitted development rights have been removed from a property by requesting a free permitted development rights check by emailing developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) requesting a 'Permitted development rights check' and giving your full address.

A permitted development rights check will not answer your specific question whether planning permission is required (or not) for your proposed installation and you must therefore check the GPDO 'Schedule 2, PART 14 Renewable energy' and points mentioned above to verify compliance with planning regulations.

The link below will take you to the GPDO 'Schedule 2, PART 14 Renewable energy' which outlines in full the criteria that would need to be met for different forms of renewable energy installations, including solar panels. This link includes the current regulations, however it is worthwhile to note that the regulations are frequently changing.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14 (opens new window)

If you are unsure whether planning permission is required or of the required procedure you may alternatively apply for an informal decision from one of our officers. This can be done by completing the form "Do I Need Planning Permission" mentioned below.

Circumstances where you would need listed building consent

Solar panels on listed buildings or located within the curtilage of a listed building will nearly always require listed building consent. Those on buildings within their curtilages require usually require planning permission as this would not be considered permitted development under the GPDO.

Different legislation applies for planning permissions and listed building consent and so these have different statutory tests. Do not assume that if you have gained one permission, you will automatically also gain the other.

More information on making Listed Buildings more energy efficient

Improving the energy efficiency of an older building can be done sympathetically and without compromising its historic character. Historic England (opens new window) also provide guidance as to how to go about it, including downloadable practical guidance on draught-proofing, insulation and ways of generating your own energy.

Should you require written confirmation as to whether planning permission or listed building consent would be required then you can use our "Do I Need Planning Permission?" service. You will need to complete and return the form "Do I Need Planning Permission?", which may be found at: planning advice.

This type of enquiry will attract a fee the cost of which can be found on our Current pre-application advice charges pages. Your completed form may be submitted by post along with a cheque for the required fee, or alternatively by email, with payment over the phone by credit/debit card following our confirmed receipt of the completed form.

On receipt of your completed form and fee, we will check the planning history and whether permitted development rights have been removed from the property or whether the proposal meets the relevant planning legislation and other possible permissions/consents i.e. any listed building consent, Article 4 directions, conservation area restrictions, etc. We will provide you with a written response with the officer's informal decision as to whether planning permission is/is not required.

Protection of wildlife and biodiversity

As a planning authority, we have a statutory duty to conserve biodiversity, and to take into account protected species, such as nesting birds and roosting bats (opens new window). These duties will be part of our consideration for any proposed works to roofs, when planning permission or listed building consent is required. However, where no application is necessary, it is the responsibility of the property owner to comply with the relevant legislation, and not to do so could be an offence.

We base our assessment of any planning application on both national and local planning policies. View guidance about construction and protected species (opens new window).

Permitted development

Due to the various provisions of the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (the "GPDO"), not all solar panels will require permission. This may lead applicants to perceive that decision-making in this area is inconsistent. However, this is a result of national permitted development regulations, rather council policy.