Sustainable energy projects

Solar panel installation

Placing solar panels on the roof of your house or flat, or a building within the grounds of your house or flat, is considered in most cases ‘permitted development’ whether your home is in a conservation area or otherwise. This means that in general there is no need to seek planning permission from us to proceed, subject to certain conditions.

When solar panels are permitted development

Solar panels are permitted development if they:

1. Will not stick out in front of the building, when measured horizontally from the wall or roof slope, by more than 20cm.
2. Will not be positioned so that they are higher than the main ridge line of the roof, or higher than the highest flat roof where roofs on the building are flat. Please note: chimneys, firewalls, parapet walls and other protrusions above the main roof ridge line or flat roof cannot be counted when considering the height of the highest part of the roof of the existing house or flat.
3. Will, so far as practicable, be sited to minimise their effect on the external appearance of the building.
4. Will, so far as practicable, be sited to minimise their effect on the amenity (attractiveness) of the area.
5. Are removed as soon as reasonably practicable when they are no longer needed.

Please note points three and four above, which are important when thinking about maintaining the quality of our conservation areas. We would always encourage people to site panels on the rear roof slope or on a rear flat roof, recognising that this is not always possible. Some panels are more visually intrusive than others, so we would also encourage you to try to source panels that are less conspicuous (colour and metal stripping are particularly noticeable).

When solar panels cannot be installed

1. Within a conservation area on a wall which faces the road.
2. On a site designated as a scheduled monument, or on a listed building (including any building within the listed building’s grounds).

Additionally, if your house is located within an Article 4 direction area - which restricts permitted development rights - you may need planning permission to make any alterations to the roof regardless of the above. Find out if you home is covered by an Article 4 direction.

If there is any doubt regarding compliance we recommend that you use our paid pre-application planning advice service or apply for a lawful development certificate (LDC) before starting works.

Electric vehicle chargers

Most EV chargers are considered permitted development. If permitted development rights do not apply, you will need to apply for planning permission. Normally this will be in the form of householder planning permission. However, this may change depending on the size of the development. Permission is usually required for:

• On-street parking
• Conservation areas
• Areas where the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers is restricted - for example through Article 4 directives
• More than one upstand per parking space.

Installing a home charger is classified as development. You will need to ensure the correct permissions are in place before any changes are made. If you fail to do so, enforcement action may be taken against you.

More information

For further advice on electric vehicle chargers, please visit the Planning Portal website.

Air source heat pumps

Installing an air source heat pump (ASHP) on domestic premises may be permitted development with no need to apply for planning permission. However, there are certain limits and conditions that must be met. For information on permitted development rights, visit the interactive guidance on the Planning Portal website.

If you believe installing an ASHP would qualify as permitted development, and you require written confirmation from us that the work does not need planning permission, please submit an application for a lawful development certificate. 

If your installation does not meet Government requirements, you will need to apply for planning permission. 

You will need to provide plans and drawings of the location, design, appearance and dimensions of the unit and any associated screens or enclosures, technical information on noise and vibration outputs (and any proposed mitigation) and on the efficiency of the unit. ASHP units should be sited unobtrusively (ideally to the rear of a property/building) and away from neighbouring properties.

As air source heat pumps can be noisy, even where they meet permitted development criteria, they must comply with Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (MCS 020) standards. Where these can't be met, you will  need to apply for planning permission.