Wind Turbines Installation London

Planning restrictions on mini wind turbines are set to be eased Homeowners who want to follow David Cameron's lead and install a mini wind turbine on their roof will be able to do so more easily under new government plans.

Planning restrictions on the installation of micro-renewable technology are set to be cut and the process streamlined, the government has announced.

Conservative leader Mr Cameron's application to put a wind turbine and solar panels on his Kensington home looks set to be given the go-ahead by the borough council next week.

But a new report by a government steering group says applications such as these should be allowed to go ahead without the need for a planning application.

The government plans to publish detailed proposals taking the report's suggestions forward in the autumn.

"It is absurd that you should be able to put a satellite dish up on your house but should have to wrestle with the planning process for small scale micro-generation which is no more obtrusive and can have a real impact on tackling climate change," said housing minister Yvette Cooper.

The steering group's report also suggests streamlining the process for household extensions that require planning permission in cases where neighbours do not object.

The number of planning applications for extensions has doubled during the last ten years but the vast majority are passed without any objection, thus taking up unnecessary time and money.

The report says extensions should be judged on impact not volume or size. Currently developments that may overshadow or intrude privacy may be permitted just because they fit within arbitrary volume and size limits.

"We want far more micro-generation to be treated as permitted development and we also should be able to simplify the system for small developments such as extensions," Ms Cooper added.