Advice on next doors Dormer.

[christab11]

I have had my solar panels on my roof for 6 years now. My next door neighbor has started his loft conversion but his dormer which is massive will be blocking sunlight from hitting at least 4 possibly 6 of my solar panels which will reduce the output by 25% for most of the afternoon.

The question I'd like to ask is "can he build such a huge dormer which will block sunlight from my solar panels"

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Chris.

 

[JohnD]

He's got planning permission, then? Did you object?

 

[GeoffJ]

There is no right to solar panel light

 

[christab11]

He's got planning permission, then? Did you object?

He's got planning permission, then? Did you object?

No planning permission and we weren't asked anything.

 

[christab11]

There is no right to solar panel light

Point taken Geoff, but should you be allowed to do a massive loft conversion with an huge dormer to increase the value of you house and in turn reduce the value of mine by casting a shadow over my panels reducing the output which in turn reduces the value of my property?

 

[wessex101]

You can build a very large dormer under permitted development so it probably did not need planning permission.

I am not aware of any right to uninterrupted sunlight for solar panels.

 

[christab11]

Thanks Wessx101. I think I'll call the council on Tuesday and ask them too.

 

[GeoffJ]

It is no different to constructing an extension/dormer that blocks the signal to a satellite dish on a neighbours wall. It is up to to the neighbour to re-site their dish - if that is impractical then it is tough.

This post has made me think about the assumptions regarding my own solar panels. I had not recognized that my returns are also premised on a neighbour not building an extension, or completing a rebuild that would likely be on 3 storeys and close to his boundary. Me thinks there are going to be many frustrated solar panel owners over the next few years.

 

[rules&rulers]

"can he build such a huge dormer which will block sunlight from my solar panels"

You can write to the planning department,explain the situation as being you have solar panels on your roof for the last 6 years,these panels were installed to help reduce production of green house gases as they reduce the amount of fossil fuel used,we are doing our part to care for our environment,if they were fitted with a government grant/discount mention that,mention if your on a feed in tariff that any reduction in your solar production will result in more fossil fuels being used and an increase in your electricity consumption.

Tell the planning dept that you should have been consulted as the building work will have an environmental and financial impact and you would have expected to been consulted not that you want to refuse planning permission but work with your neighbours as the panels could be relocated/upgraded so the same solar output is achieved .

Dont mention the neighbours dormer is big,they may think you really just have a problem with your neighbour.not the environment.

Good luck.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

They're both a blight and look ****.

 

[^woody^]

You can write to the planning department,explain the situation as being you have solar panels on your roof for the last 6 years,these panels were installed to help reduce production of green house gases as they reduce the amount of fossil fuel used,we are doing our part to care for our environment,if they were fitted with a government grant/discount mention that,mention if your on a feed in tariff that any reduction in your solar production will result in more fossil fuels being used and an increase in your electricity consumption.

Tell the planning dept that you should have been consulted as the building work will have an environmental and financial impact and you would have expected to been consulted not that you want to refuse planning permission but work with your neighbours as the panels could be relocated/upgraded so the same solar output is achieved .

Dont mention the neighbours dormer is big,they may think you really just have a problem with your neighbour.not the environment.

Good luck.

Non of that will be of any use, and a waste of time.

It's PD or it has permission, and there is nothing to be done now.

 

[^woody^]

Is the dormer cheek on the party wall and therefore involving the PW Act? If so and no notice has been served you can get an injunction to stop the work as sort out what is to happen regarding the panels.

 

[rules&rulers]

Non of that will be of any use, and a waste of time.

how do you know that ?.
The concerns should be asked so a reply can be considered.
With that kind of attitude,i hope you are not selected for jury service.

 

[christab11]

To be honest I don't mind what anyone does. But what has cheesed me off is I installed the Solar Panels to make use of the Feed in tariff and use the electricity produced.
The house was bought by a developer which again I don't mind but the same way as he's trying to increase the value of the house by completely stripping the building bare and rebuilding it with a Loft Conversion I want to maintain the value of my house by having 100% efficient solar panels.
What was a 2 bed terraced house is about to become 3 self contained flats because they have also said they are installing a kitchen at the back of the loft conversion.

 

[^woody^]

how do you know that ?.
The concerns should be asked so a reply can be considered. With that kind of attitude,i hope you are not selected for jury service.

I know this because if it's PD, then the planners can't get involved.

And if it's been given planning permission, then that's it, and the OP can't challenge the decision.

It's got nothing to do with attitude, and everything to do with planning law.

Likewise I would hope that if you were on a jury, you would know a bit about what you were about to comment on.