DPA plans to relax the rules on green energy

As climate change gathers pace and the earth warms, there is pressure to reduce carbon emissions, such as petrol emissions.

The Development & Planning Authority has taken steps towards helping islanders be greener as world leaders discuss the COP26 draft deal.

Currently there are tight rules about where solar panels can be installed, and electric car charging points and air source heat pumps require full planning permission.

The DPA said its proposed changes, due to be debated by the States next month, will enable wider environmental benefits and promote sustainable development, by making it easier for all three to be installed without planning permission, if they meet a certain criteria.

The moves have been welcomed by green campaigners and energy companies.

‘This is what climate action is all about,’ said Jack Fletcher of Renew Guernsey.

‘It’s the little things like this that make a big difference.’

Mr Fletcher was busy installing a new solar panel array yesterday.

He said the company could have installed several similar arrays over the summer, but was unable to obtain planning permission in time.

‘This is going to help businesses like ours install systems a lot quicker,’ he said.

Little Green Energy Company CEO Bob Beebe called the changes ‘crucial’.

He said that the company had been working closely with the DPA for some time.

‘We are very pleased that working together has produced these crucial changes that are needed to simplify the planning process for solar products, while at the same time protecting the heritage and importance of properties where the products are installed,’ he said.

But importantly, he said the DPA had considered the broader energy policy which the States approved last year, which maps out the island’s decarbonisation by 2050.

‘The increase in planning exemptions is taking a pragmatic future view of what is needed to build our sustainable island and is great news for islanders who wish to play their part in protecting the environment.’

The company now hoped to see more traction by Environment & Infrastructure on the energy policy milestones which, he said, had stalled since they were approved.

Helen Quin of the Clean Earth Trust said the proposals were great news. She was pleased to see positive changes to support the development of green solutions.

‘There is still a void in support, communication and education from the States to the general public on how they will be affected by climate change,’ she said.

‘Now we need to see other promises outlined in the Climate Change Policy and Action plan delivered – for example, the protection of our terrestrial and marine environments.’

The proposed rules are in brief

Solar panels could now be installed without permission, regardless of whether they face the highway. The exemption is also set to include other solar products and to apply on, or within the curtilage of a protected building, flats and non-domestic buildings.

Electric vehicle charge points could be installed on a house, outbuilding or flat, or as a freestanding point, as long as they are within a property’s curtilage and the vehicle is used for private transport.

Non-illuminated charging point signs, below a certain size, will not need permission.

With air source heat pump and air conditioning units, it is planned that one can be installed within a property’s curtilage, provided that it does not exceed a certain size or go above a certain sound level.

All these rules will have certain criteria and subject to change until they are formally approved. Islanders should check before carrying out work.