Norwich homes to be given solar panelling after High Court ruling

Letting agents in Norwich can soon expect to see a brace of green homes on their books, after plans to fit solar panelling to 3,000 houses in the area were boosted by a High Court ruling.

Plans were initially outlined to fit up to 3,000 homes in Norwich with solar panels, but they took a blow following a governmental decision to slash energy subsidies earlier than first set out.

However, environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth - with support from two solar panel providers and Norwich City Court - took the issue to court, claiming the decision was legally flawed, edp24.co.uk reports.

Ruling, Mr Justice Mitting came down in favour of Friends of the Earth, claiming that energy secretary Chris Huhne was "proposing to make an unlawful decision" when he spoke of halving the amount of feed-in tariff subsidies 11 days earlier than originally proposed.

Speaking to eveningnews24.co.uk of the ruling, cabinet minister for housing Victoria MacDonald explained: "Up to three weeks ago we were all set with our tender to put in 3,000 solar panels. We spent a lot of time discussing our options and investigating it.

"Within days the Government turned round and said we are going to cut it by 50 per cent. It was like having the rug pulled out from under us. We hope this will give us the breathing space to crack on with it."

Posted 22-12-2011
Author: David Howells