Solar Generation Planning Permission – Permitted Development

Where the solar panels are to be mounted on an existing building, this is now deemed as permitted development and no planning consent is required. Planning consent is required for any standalone installation

We do however run a quick check with the local council planning department as there are a few exceptions which are covered by “The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2012”. A full copy of the text can be obtained from:

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/748/made

Development is not permitted by Class A if—

  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a wall or pitched roof and would protrude more than 200 millimetres beyond the plane of the wall or the roof slope when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of the wall or roof slope;
  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a flat roof, where the highest part of the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be higher than 1 metre above the highest part of the roof (excluding any chimney);
  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a roof and within 1 metre of the external edge of that roof;
  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a wall and within 1 metre of a junction of that wall with another wall or with the roof of the building;
  • in the case of a building on article 1(5) land, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a wall or roof slope which fronts a highway;
  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a site designated as a scheduled monument; or
  • the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a listed building or on a building within the curtilage of a listed building.