Solar panels

On 27^th August 2026 the permitted development right permitting the installation of stand-alone solar equipment within the grounds of a house or block of flats was updated.

As part of these changes a 12-month transitional period has been added, ending on 27^th August 2027. Until this point you can follow the rules as they were immediately prior to 27^th August, or the new rules.

Rules prior to 27^th August 2026

All the following conditions must be observed:

• Stand-alone solar equipment should be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area
• When no longer needed equipment should be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.
• If solar equipment is to be installed in a conservation area, closer to the highway than the nearest part of the house or flats, then the developer must apply to the local planning authority for prior approval.

All the following limits must be met:

• Only the first stand alone solar installation will be permitted development. Further installations will require planning permission.
• No part of the installation should be higher than four metres.
• In a conservation area, where the solar equipment will be installed closer to the highway than the nearest part of the house or flats, the equipment should not be higher than 2 metres.
• The installation should be at least 5m from the boundary of the property.
• The size of the array should be no more that 9 square metres or 3m wide by 3m deep.
• Panels should not be installed within boundary of a listed building or a scheduled monument.
• if your property is in a World Heritage Site, no part of the solar installation should be nearer to any highway bounding the house than the part of the house that is nearest to that highway.

Rules following 27^th August 2026

All the following conditions must be observed:

• Stand-alone solar equipment should be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area
• When no longer needed equipment should be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.
• If solar equipment is to be installed in a conservation area, closer to the highway than the nearest part of the house or flats, then the developer must apply to the local planning authority for prior approval.
• If solar equipment is to be installed on article 2(3) land*, within 5 metres of the boundary of the curtilage, then the developer must apply to the local planning authority for prior approval.

If the property is part of a block of flats, all the following limits must be met:

• Only the first stand-alone solar installation will be permitted development. Further installations will require planning permission.
• No part of the installation should be higher than four metres.
• In a conservation area, where the solar equipment will be installed closer to the highway than the nearest part of the flats, the equipment should not be higher than 2 metres.
• The installation should be at least 5m from the boundary of the property.
• The size of the array should be no more than 9 square metres or 3m wide by 3m deep.
• Panels should not be installed within boundary of a listed building or a scheduled monument.
• If your property is in a World Heritage Site, no part of the solar installation should be nearer to any highway bounding the block of flats than the part of the block of flats that is nearest to that highway.
• In the case of plug-in solar, any part of the solar equipment should not be installed on a wooden fence, gate, wall or other means of enclosure.

If the property is a house, all the following limits must be met:

• No part of the stand-alone solar should exceed the lowest applicable height below:
  • 1 metre in height, when within 5 metres of the boundary and situated on land forward of the principal elevation of the house
  • 2 metres in height, when installed within 5 metres of the boundary
  • 2 metres in height, when installed on land in a conservation area and nearer to any highway bounding the house than the part of the house that is nearest to that highway
  • In any other case, 4 metres in height.
• If your property is in a World Heritage Site, the installation should be at least 5m from the boundary of the property, and no part of the solar installation should be nearer to any highway bounding the house than the part of the house that is nearest to that highway.
• Any part of the stand-alone solar should not be installed within boundary of a listed building or a scheduled monument.
• The size of the array should be no more than 9 square metres

In the case of plug-in solar, any part of the solar equipment should not be installed on a wooden fence, gate, wall or other means of enclosure.

Note - If you are a leaseholder you may need to get permission from your landlord, freeholder or management company.