Class H: Building-mounted wind turbines on domestic premises

Class H permits a microgeneration wind turbine fixed to a detached dwellinghouse, or to a detached building within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or block of flats. It does not permit a turbine fixed directly to a block of flats.

The turbine must meet certification, size, boundary and protected-site requirements. A stand-alone turbine is addressed by Class I.

Principal limits

The turbine must comply with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or equivalent. Only one turbine is permitted and an existing stand-alone turbine or air source heat pump can rule out the right. The turbine may project no more than three metres above the roof, subject to a 15-metre overall limit; the lowest blade must be at least five metres above ground and the turbine at least five metres from a boundary. The swept area must not exceed 3.8 m².

Protected land and safeguarding restrictions, and removal when no longer needed, also matter. Compare Class I for a stand-alone turbine and read Part 14, Class H.

Legislation

Class H – installation or alteration etc of wind turbine on domestic premises

Permitted Development

H. The installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration wind turbine on—

(a) a detached dwellinghouse; or
(b) a detached building situated within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats.

Development not permitted

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

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

(a) in the case of the installation of a wind turbine the development would result in the presence of more than 1 wind turbine on the same building or within the curtilage;

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

(c) in the case of the installation of a wind turbine, an air source heat pump is installed on the same building or within its curtilage;

(d) the highest part of the wind turbine (including blades) would either—
(i) protrude more than 3 metres above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney); or
(ii) exceed more than 15 metres in height,
whichever is the lesser;

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

(f) any part of the wind turbine (including blades) would be positioned so that it would be within 5 metres of any boundary of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or the block of flats;

(g) the swept area of any blade of the wind turbine would exceed 3.8 square metres;

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

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

(j) the 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 wind turbine would be installed on a wall or roof slope of—
(i) the detached dwellinghouse; or
(ii) a building within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats,
which fronts a highway; or

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

Conditions

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

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

(b) the wind turbine is, so far as practicable, sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building;

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

(d) the wind turbine is removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed.

Explore GPDO Part 14

Page updated: 24th September 2026