Do I need planning permission

Solar panels on my roof

You will need to apply for planning permission if:

  • You live in a conservation area and you wish to extend the roof
  • The new works go higher than the existing roof
  • The works would involve a roof extension on a roof slope facing a highway, including a public path
  • The dormer window(s) or roof extensions, plus any previous extensions to the roof, would increase the size of the house by more than 40 cubic metres for a terraced house or 50 cubic metres for any other house
  • It would consist of or include the construction of a veranda, balcony or raised platform (above 300mm high)

Development is permitted subject to:

  • The use of matching external materials
  • The edge of the eaves of the extension shall, so far as practicable, be more than 20cm from the eaves of the original roof (except for hip-to-gable extensions)
  • Any window or roof light inserted on a side wall or side roof slope being obscure glazed and non-opening (unless the opening parts of the window are more than 1.7 metres above floor level)
  • Internal alterations
  • Internal alterations do not require planning permission as they are not classed as development. This therefore means that permission is only required under the Building Regulations

Solar panels

Solar photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal equipment can be installed on an existing wall, roof or building within the curtilage unless:

  • The equipment would protrude more than 200mm beyond the plane of the wall or roof slope
  • The highest part would be above the highest part of the roof
  • You live in a conservation area and the equipment would be installed on a wall forming the principal or a side elevation of the house and would be visible from a highway
  • If you live in a conservation area and the equipment would be installed on a wall or building within the curtilage and would be visible from a highway
  • The equipment would be installed on a building within the curtilage of a listed building
  • Stand alone solar PV or solar thermal equipment can be installed within the curtilage, but not on a building, unless:
    • there would be more than one unit within the curtilage
    • any part would exceed four metres in height above ground level
    • you live in a conservation area and the equipment would be visible from a highway
    • the equipment would be sited within five metres of the boundary
    • the equipment would be sited within the curtilage of a listed building
    • the surface area of the panels would exceed nine square metres, or the equipment would exceed three metres in any dimension

The installation of solar equipment meeting the above criteria is permitted subject to the equipment shall be:

  • Sited, so far as practicable, so as to minimise the visual impact on the building and the area
  • Removed when no longer needed