IPD was instructed by a private client to support a planning application for the installation of photovoltaic panels on an existing agricultural building at a rural property in the Dronfield area.
The proposal sought to make productive use of the roof of an existing building to generate renewable energy, without extending the building or introducing additional freestanding development into the surrounding countryside.
Despite the relatively small scale of the proposal, the site was subject to a number of important planning and heritage considerations.
The property lies within the Green Belt and open countryside, as well as within a designated Conservation Area and close to a number of listed buildings.
The key consideration was therefore demonstrating that the proposed solar panels could be installed without adversely affecting the rural character of the area, the openness of the Green Belt or the setting and significance of nearby heritage assets.
IPD prepared a combined Design, Planning & Heritage Statement to accompany the planning application.
Our assessment considered the design and appearance of the proposed panels, landscape and visual effects, Green Belt policy, the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the potential effect upon nearby listed buildings.
Particular emphasis was placed upon the panels being contained within the existing roof plane, with no increase in the footprint, height, scale or massing of the building. The proposed dark, visually recessive panels were also considered appropriate in the context of the existing agricultural building.
The planning case balanced these considerations against the significant policy support for small-scale renewable and low-carbon energy generation.
Planning permission was successfully secured.
The approval demonstrates that renewable energy improvements can be successfully delivered even within sensitive Green Belt and heritage settings where proposals are appropriately designed and supported by a proportionate planning and heritage assessment.
For IPD, the project is another example of our ability to bring together planning, design and heritage considerations to unlock development opportunities on constrained sites.
Whether a project involves a householder development, renewable energy installation, listed building, Conservation Area or Green Belt site, our Chartered Planning team can provide advice from the earliest feasibility stage through to submission and determination of a planning application.