Published: Friday 21 January 2022
More homes and businesses in Kensington and Chelsea could be powered by renewable energy, with proposals to make installing solar panels easier.
Much of the borough is within conservation areas and there are 4,000 listed buildings in Kensington and Chelsea. Currently all listed buildings need to apply for individual listed building consent and some require planning permission too if they want to instal solar panels.
Now the Council is the first in the country to consult on a new planning order, which would give consent for solar panels on most Grade II and some Grade II* listed buildings without the need for individual listed building consent. If the building is residential, planning permission is already not needed, so installing solar panels will be much simpler in future.
There will be conditions about the positioning, materials and fixings that can be used, in order to protect the appearance and fabric of listed buildings.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for planning, place and environment, said:
“The energy used to power and heat buildings makes up around 80% of the overall carbon emissions in the borough. With 4,000 listed buildings in Kensington and Chelsea, we’ll need more of these homes and businesses running on renewable energy if we are going to be carbon neutral by 2040.
“Simplifying planning permission for solar panels will make going greener appealing to many more homeowners.
“Protecting the unique character of our borough and its beautiful buildings is important and we know that solar panels can be installed without being visible at street level and without causing any damage to the building.”
The proposals do not: include Grade I listed buildings; some Grade II* listed buildings in highly visible locations or that are associated with a registered park or garden; or religious settings currently in use for ecclesiastical purposes.
The Council has created the draft Local Listed Building Consent Order according to Historic England’s published advice on minimising potential damage or visual impact of installing solar panels on historic buildings: Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings Solar Electric (Photovoltaics).
Have your say on the proposed Local Listed Building Consent Order on the Council’s website or by emailing your views to [email protected] until 25 February 2022.