A recent change to Permitted Development Rights in Scotland has removed the requirement for full planning permission for the installation of solar panels exceeding 50kW, on both commercial and domestic buildings.
This legislation has been welcomed by many, including Solar Energy UK who said the new rules are expected to have a “really significant benefit for businesses and commercial rooftops to help reduce energy costs.”
The new rules allow for the installation of flat roof systems under permitted development as long as they do not protrude more than 1m from the roof surface.
This move will simplify the application process for businesses wanting to invest in solar panels, reducing the time and cost investment spent on regulatory compliance. Under the previous rules, the application and consultation process would take a minimum of three months, sometimes longer if there were additional considerations.
“The recent update in legislation appears to be really positive news for Scottish businesses wanting to invest in sustainable energy. By making the process more straightforward, businesses may find it more accessible and financially viable to install solar panels on their commercial properties. Business owners planning to install solar panels should make sure to inform their insurance broker of this change, as this may impact their buildings insurance policy and the conditions imposed upon the policyholder, to avoid a non-disclosure scenario and prevent delays or refusal of future claim payments,” advises Sam Towler, Client Director, Tysers.
Will installing solar panels impact my insurance?
If you do not update your buildings insurance policy to reflect the addition of solar panels (or other changes to your property) you may be unknowingly underinsured. Solar panels are a significant investment in your property with associated repair or replacement costs, therefore need to be outlined in your policy to be protected.
If you are considering the addition of solar panels or other additions to your commercial property, now would be the ideal time to review your current policy and speak to an experienced insurance broker to ensure you are fully covered.
Research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Building Cost Information Service suggests that around 80% of commercial properties have an element of underinsurance, with the most common factors being out of date valuations, changes of use and miscalculation of the true rebuild costs for a commercial property.