Planning permission for biomass boilers

Dman2 · May 4, 2019

Bit in FW this week saying that you need planning permission for biomass boilers, and that ofgem are starting to ask for proof and are withholding rhi till provided.
This was never mentioned to at time of installation.
Anyone else heard anything about it.
Looking on the FWI website it does state that if it has been installed longer than 4 years then permission is deemed anyway, but still need to notify council

George from SJM Planning · May 4, 2019

Dman2 said:
Bit in FW this week saying that you need planning permission for biomass boilers, and that ofgem are starting to ask for proof and are withholding rhi till provided.
This was never mentioned to at time of installation.
Anyone else heard anything about it.
Looking on the FWI website it does state that if it has been installed longer than 4 years then permission is deemed anyway, but still need to notify council

A local company have just been served an enforcement notice for installing a biomass boiler in a general purpose shed without permission. They then applied for retrospective and had it refused.

chickens and wheat · May 4, 2019

Im getting a largish ground source heating system and need planning to bury the largest pipes , the main array is put it with a draining machine no planning needed for that.

You cannot get rhi on new builds without planning. you cannot get rhi preapproved to lock into tarrif without planning , and my bank wont release funds on the loan until I have planning.

Planning officer coming for a look next week

rollestonpark · May 4, 2019

Basically it seems, that regardless of when your boiler was installed, if, or should I say when you get an audit, you have to provide evidence of planning for it.

If you don't need planning for it, then evidence to this fact must be produced, probably from the council.
Whilst this is being sorted no payments etc etc.

I think it's ridiculous really, a lot of farmers have installed into an old farm building, why would planning be needed?
If I installed a piece of farm machinery, like a grain handling system into an existing building, I wouldn't need planning.

I bet if I installed an oil boiler into a farm building, I wouldn't need planning... can't see why this is different.

If you built a shed from scratch to take the boiler, then fair enough, planning etc.

Think this is just an Ofgem ploy to kick people off the scheme, simple as.

Still Farming · May 4, 2019

GeorgieB82 said:
A local company have just been served an enforcement notice for installing a biomass boiler in a general purpose shed without permission. They then applied for retrospective and had it refused.

Shed or boiler refused ?
Has it been there long?

Bloders · May 4, 2019

so whats the best method of establishing if you need planning to put a boiler into a shed which you obtained planning for?
ie rather than ask if you need planning, is there a way of demonstarting you dont need it, which does not involve planning people?

Still Farming · May 4, 2019

Bloders said:
so whats the best method of establishing if you need planning to put a boiler into a shed which you obtained planning for?
ie rather than ask if you need planning, is there a way of demonstarting you dont need it, which does not involve planning people?

What criteria?
Is it like permitted developments or certain distance from public roads,neighbouring properties , emmissions ,etc etc

curlietailz · May 4, 2019

Are we talking commercial or private here

Bloders · May 4, 2019

commercial

George from SJM Planning · May 4, 2019

Still Farming said:
Shed or boiler refused ?
Has it been there long?

The shed got permission but not for the installation of the biomass boiler. It had been in about a year before Enforcement Officer visited.

George from SJM Planning · May 4, 2019

Although personally I haven't been involved in planning for a biomass installation, from my knowledge of the planning system I believe the issue is that the building they are being installed was given permission for Agriculture or Storage or possibly Commercial purposes so being used for biomass is technically a change of use. I don't believe there is any provision in the GPDO for biomass under Permitted Development

f0ster · May 4, 2019

how about if the biomass heat is used for the milking parlour to clean the milk lines and also for the bulk tank.

George from SJM Planning · May 4, 2019

f0ster said:
how about if the biomass heat is used for the milking parlour to clean the milk lines and also for the bulk tank.

If it is installed in an agricultural building and used solely for agriculture then all I would do is apply for a Lawful Development Certificate so cover your ass if it is questioned in the future whether it is for an audit or planning enforcement.

Chickcatcher · Jul 15, 2019

What about if the boiler is in a 20Ft shipping container not fixed to the ground? anybody know?

Clive · Jul 15, 2019

Dman2 said:
Bit in FW this week saying that you need planning permission for biomass boilers, and that ofgem are starting to ask for proof and are withholding rhi till provided.
This was never mentioned to at time of installation.
Anyone else heard anything about it.
Looking on the FWI website it does state that if it has been installed longer than 4 years then permission is deemed anyway, but still need to notify council

a friend pf mine with lot of boilers has been caught out by this, long established use but no PP means no payments until he gets it - big numbers of ££ being withheld

George from SJM Planning · Jul 15, 2019

Chickcatcher said:
What about if the boiler is in a 20Ft shipping container not fixed to the ground? anybody know?

This is a common misconception that if it is not fixed then it doesn't require planning.
In reality, if it is perceived that the use is permanent/long-term then it needs planning. If it is only going to be sited there for 6 months then I would argue it was temporary and may not require planning

renewablejohn · Jul 15, 2019

GeorgieB82 said:
This is a common misconception that if it is not fixed then it doesn't require planning.
In reality, if it is perceived that the use is permanent/long-term then it needs planning. If it is only going to be sited there for 6 months then I would argue it was temporary and may not require planning

Definetly a misconception. I have been told by our planners that as soon as our polytunnels are connected to a permanent supply of electric or water they will lose there temporary status. Hence water supply is by mobile IBC and electric by mobile generator.

farmerm · Jul 15, 2019

I could understand the need for planning if you need to build the structure to house the system but if installed in an existing building? We had to install a new Flue pipe for our domestic system that was installed inside a listed building. I think we had the listed buildings officer come take a look prior to install and was happy for us to proceed without a planning application, but I don't recall us having any paperwork to that effect.

Still Farming · Jul 15, 2019

What about certain distance from neighbouring property, houses,footpaths , time span been in use , etc etc

farmerm · Jul 15, 2019

renewablejohn said:
Definetly a misconception. I have been told by our planners that as soon as our polytunnels are connected to a permanent supply of electric or water they will lose there temporary status. Hence water supply is by mobile IBC and electric by mobile generator.

Install a permanent supply point a few yards from the tunnels then plug the temporary cables you currently connect to the generator into it.... similarly have a water supply to a storage vessel at the same point and a temporary pump to transfer the water to your temporary IBC

Planning permission for biomass boilers

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Up to 25%

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50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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