Class I – Stand-alone wind turbine on a domestic property

The permitted development right of Class I allows you to install, alter or replace a stand-alone wind turbine on a residential property without planning permission. This can be a house, bungalow or a block of flats. However there are some height and other limits on the size of the stand-alone wind turbine.

For a wind turbine attached to a residential property see Class H.

What are the limits for the stand-alone wind turbine?

The stand-alone wind turbine must comply with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent. You are limited to one wind turbine on the property and would need full planning permission if you already had an air source heat pump. 

The stand-alone wind turbine cannot exceed 11.1 metres in height. It must however have at least 5m between any blade and the ground. The wind turbine must not be within the height of the turbine plus 10% of a boundary, which probably limits these to detached dwellings or blocks of flats with larger curtilages. 

You can’t install a wind turbine on a listed building, scheduled monument, AONB, The Broads etc., but can be erected  in a conservation area as long as it is not erected between the dwelling and a highway.

The full legislation for stand-alone wind turbines can be found below.

Legislation

Class I – installation or alteration etc of stand-alone wind turbine on domestic premises

Permitted Development

I. The installation, alteration or replacement of a stand-alone wind turbine for microgeneration within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats.

Development not permitted

I.1 Development is not permitted by Class I unless the stand-alone wind turbine complies with the MCS Planning Standards or equivalent standards.

I.2 Development is not permitted by Class I if—

(a) in the case of the installation of a stand-alone wind turbine, the development would result in the presence of more than 1 stand-alone wind turbine within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats;

(b) in the case of the installation of a stand-alone wind turbine, a wind turbine is installed on the dwellinghouse or on a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or the block of flats;

(c) in the case of the installation of a stand-alone wind turbine, an air source heat pump is installed on the dwellinghouse or block of flats or within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats;

(d) the highest part of the stand-alone wind turbine would exceed 11.1 metres in height;

(e) the distance between ground level and the lowest part of any blade of the stand-alone wind turbine would be less than 5 metres;

(f) any part of the stand-alone wind turbine (including blades) would be located in a position which is less than a distance equivalent to the overall height (including blades) of the stand-alone wind turbine plus 10% of its height when measured from any point along the boundary of the curtilage;

(g) the swept area of any blade of the stand-alone wind turbine exceeds 3.8 square metres;

(h) the stand-alone wind turbine would be installed on safeguarded land;

(i) the stand-alone wind turbine would be installed on a site designated as a scheduled monument;

(j) the stand-alone wind turbine would be installed within the curtilage of a building which is a listed building;

(k) in the case of land within a conservation area, the stand-alone wind turbine would be installed so that it is nearer to any highway which bounds the curtilage than the part of the dwellinghouse or block of flats which is nearest to that highway; or

(l) the stand-alone wind turbine would be installed on article 2(3) land other than land within a conservation area.

Conditions

I.3 Development is permitted by Class I subject to the following conditions—

(a) the blades of the stand-alone wind turbine is made of non-reflective materials;

(b) the stand-alone wind turbine is, so far as practicable, sited so as to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area; and

(c) the stand-alone wind turbine is removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed.

Stand-alone wind turbines Page Updated:  4th March 2023