The Scottish Government has laid a Scottish Statutory Instrument before the Scottish Parliament that changes permitted development rights (PDR) for renewables equipment, thermal efficiency improvements and electricity network infrastructure. The instrument was laid on 28 March 2024, and, subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, the legislative changes are intended to come into force on 24 May 20241.
The changes follow Phase 3 of the Scottish Government's review of permitted development rights, which the government says considers PDR in relation to renewables equipment, thermal efficiency improvements, development by electricity undertakers, reverse vending machines and the temporary use of land for shooting ranges1. The consultation on Phase 3 opened on 31 May 2023 and closed on 23 Aug 20231. It received 467 responses, of which 104 were from groups or organisations and 363 from members of the public1.
The government states that the responses, together with an independent analysis report, informed and shaped the Scottish Ministers' approval of the instrument1. The changes introduced by the Order are intended to help support three things1:
| Intended to support |
|---|
| Deployment of domestic and non-domestic renewables equipment, such as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps |
| Alteration or replacement of windows to improve energy efficiency |
| Roll-out of electricity network infrastructure |
"Subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, the legislative changes are intended to come into force on 24 May 2024."
The Order itself is the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 20241. The consultation feedback page was updated on 28 March 20241. The Scottish Government has not reported, in this material, the detailed wording of the amended rights, the size or siting limits that will apply, or whether any of the proposed changes were dropped or altered after consultation. Those details have not been reported here.
Why it matters for households
Permitted development rights allow certain work to go ahead without a householder having to apply for planning permission. In Scotland, the Phase 3 changes are intended to support the deployment of domestic renewables equipment such as solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps, and the alteration or replacement of windows to improve energy efficiency1. For a household considering solar PV or other renewables equipment, or window replacement for thermal efficiency, the scope of what can be installed without a planning application is set by these rules. The same instrument also covers the roll-out of electricity network infrastructure1, which affects the grid connections that domestic generation and heating equipment depend on. The regulation and policy framework for these rights is devolved, so the position in Scotland is set by this instrument rather than by rules elsewhere in the UK. The government's stated aim is that the changes help support deployment of this equipment1; the practical effect for any individual home depends on the detailed terms of the Order, which have not been reported in this material.
What happens next
The instrument was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 28 March 2024 and is subject to Parliamentary scrutiny1. Subject to that scrutiny, the legislative changes are intended to come into force on 24 May 20241. The Scottish Government has not reported, in this material, any further stages or dates beyond that.
Sources1 cited
- [Scottish Government Review of Permitted Development Rights - Phase 3
- Scottish Government consultations
- Citizen Space](https://consult.gov.scot/planning-performance/scottish-government-review-of-pdr3), consult.gov.scot