Planning permission is required to install a wind turbine in Wales or Northern Ireland. We can help you arrange planning permission.

In England and Scotland, a domestic wind turbine may be classified as Permitted Development, in which case planning permission will not be needed. However the criteria are complex, and very different in England and Scotland, so we recommend that you contact us at an early stage to check whether planning is required.

England

From 1st December 2011, wind turbines mounted on domestic buildings will be considered Permitted Development provided they meet certain criteria.

For building-mounted turbines, the criteria include:

• the house is detached
• the top of the turbine blades is no more than three metres above the top of the house, or 15 metres above the ground
• all of the turbine is at least five metres from the edge of the householder’s property.

For pole-mounted turbines, the criteria include:

• the top of the turbine is no more than 11.1 metres above ground
• all of the turbine is at least 1.1 times the height of the turbine away from the edge of the householder’s property.

And for both types of turbine:

• there is no other wind turbine and no air source heat pump on the site
• the bottom of the blades is at least five metres above ground
• the turbine’s swept area is no more than 3.8 m2.

Additional criteria apply if the turbine is in a conservation are, World Heritage Site or similar.