At The Sunnyside Guest House in Southport, we are deeply committed to sustainability, and our journey towards net zero by 2030 is a priority for us. Recently, we faced a setback when our planning application to install solar panels was refused. As our guest house is located within a conservation area, we were required to submit a full planning application for these modifications, and we were obviously very disappointed with the outcome.
A lot of hard work had gone into structuring the application pack, including the Design and Access and Heritage Statements. We were delighted to have secured match grant funding for the project, having won approval from the grant panel at John Moores University.
In contrast, our neighbouring residential properties benefit from permitted development rights under Class A of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. This allows homeowners to install solar panels without formal planning permission, even in conservation areas, provided certain conditions are met, such as ensuring the panels don’t protrude more than 0.2 metres from the roof slope or wall surface.
However, as a commercial building, we don’t enjoy these same allowances and must go through the full planning application process. This situation highlights the challenges small businesses face when attempting to adopt renewable energy solutions, particularly in conservation areas.
That said, we’re not letting this setback stop us. Despite the challenges, we’ve been working closely with Sefton Council to find a way forward. We recently attended a pre-planning application advice meeting to prepare for submitting a new full planning application for solar panels. This was attended by two senior planning officers and two members of the Sefton Council heritage team . We remain hopeful that this engagement will help us reach a solution that both supports our sustainability goals and respects the character of the local area.
Furthermore, we plan to discuss the issue with our local MP to highlight the struggles small businesses like ours are facing as we work towards decarbonisation. This project is a big part of our journey to becoming net zero by 2030, and we believe it’s crucial that businesses have the support they need to transition to greener energy.
In the event of further rejections, we’ve already been considering workable alternatives. Our road to net zero may not be straightforward, but we are determined to keep pushing forward with a positive mindset. We never expected it to be easy, but we’re committed to finding solutions and making a real difference.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. We’re excited to continue this journey and will keep you updated on our progress!