News

May 2008

The Topsham Society’s 44th Annual General meeting will be held in the Malthouse of the Globe Hotel at 8 p.m. on 21st May.  Members will receive further details with the Spring Newsletter.  Following the formal meeting there will be refreshments and then a short presentation from a representative of Persimmon Homes on its major development on the old Royal Navy Storage Depot site off the Topsham Road.  New members can join on the night.
There is still time to book tickets for the Society’s summer outing to Sherborne and Sherborne Castle on Tuesday 3rd June.  The plan is to depart at 8.45 a.m. from Holman Way Car Park.  Tickets, at £17.50, and further information are available from Jane Coleman (876456) or David Woods (874901).  Members will receive a booking form with the Spring Newsletter.

Renewable energy
If Government targets for reducing greenhouse emissions are to be met, a greater diversity of renewable energy schemes will need to be developed. The Topsham Society have been thinking about how we might react to Planning Proposals forsmall scale installations of solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps etc. These are officially known as micro-renewable installations. 
In many circumstances planning permission will be required.   If you are planning something on these lines, you are strongly advised to seek written confirmation from Exeter City Council even if you believe that your proposal will not require planning permission. For this, please contact the Council for a ‘Householders Enquiry’ form. Some broad guidelines are set out below.

Solar Hot Water Panels and Solar Photo-Voltaics (PVs) installed on the roof of a house.
If you live in a Conservation Area, you will need planning permission unless the installation is so small that it does not materially affect the appearance of the house. As a guide, if the installation is visible from public areas, is large in area, or projects more that about 10cm above the roof slope, it is likely to affect the appearance of the house and will require planning permission.
In other areas not covered by the above designation, planning permission will be required if the installation is on the roof slope fronting any highway or is of an unusual design such as a high projection from the roof slope.
If you live in a listed building you will always need Listed Building Consent. This is a separate consent from planning permission and you may also require planning permission depending on the criteria outlined above.

Solar Hot Water Panels and Solar Photo-Voltaics installed as a free-standing structure.
These installations do not usually require planning permission provided that:
• They are not attached to the house.
• They are not located closer to a highway than the dwelling house (unless you have 20 metres clear between the    installation and the highway).
• They are not more than 3 metres in height.

Wind Turbines
Planning permission is currently required for the installation of wind turbines of all sizes.

Ground Source Heat Pumps and Biomass Boilers
These do not normally require any visible external works and if this is the case planning permission is not required provided that they are installed within the ‘residential curtilage’ of the house. In most situations, the residential curtilage is the house and its garden.
Heat pumps could require approval depending on how the system is linked to the existing heating/hot water system.
It is stressed that this information is a guide only and, should you be in any doubt, please contact Exeter City Council Planning Services for further advice on 01392 265223 or planning@exeter.gov.uk
For all of the above micro-renewable installations you are also advised to contact Building Control Services at Exeter City Council for advice on whether Building Regulations Consent would be required on 01392 265167 or building.control@exeter.gov.uk

GEOFF WILKINSON (879107)

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