East Suffolk Council

Solar PV and Building Regulations in Conservation areas

The following guide produced by Suffolk’s Local Authorities to support homeowners in conservation areas wishing to install a roof-mounted solar PV system for electricity generation.

Planning

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 this is in a conservation area or otherwise. This means that in general there is no need to seek planning permission from your Local Planning Authority (LPA) to proceed, subject to certain conditions. These conditions are that the solar panels:

• a. Will not stick out in front of the building, when measured horizontally from the wall or roof slope, by more than 20cm.
• b. 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. NB 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.
• c. Will so far as practicable, be sited to minimise their effect on the external appearance of the building.
• d. Will so far as practicable, be sited to minimise their effect on the amenity (attractiveness) of the area.
• e. Are removed as soon as reasonably practicable when they are no longer needed.

In addition, solar panels cannot be installed:

• f. Within a conservation area or World Heritage Site on a wall which faces the road.
• g. On a site designated as a scheduled monument, or on a listed building (including any building within the listed building’s grounds).

If there is any doubt regarding compliance with a) to g) above, it is recommended that you apply to your LPA for pre-application planning advice or a lawful development certificate (LDC) before starting works.

Where conditions a) to g) above cannot be met, or where your LPA has issued an ‘Article 4’ direction covering the area in which your property is located*, an application for planning permission will be required.

*Article 4 directions are made when the character of an area of acknowledged importance would be threatened. They are most common in conservation areas. You will probably know if your property is affected by such a direction, but you can check with the LPA if you are not sure.

Building Regulations

If you wish to install solar panels on your roof, building regulations will normally apply. The ability of the existing roof to carry the load (weight) of the panels will need to be checked and proven. Some strengthening work may be needed. Building regulations also apply to other aspects of the work such as electrical installation.

Installers who are members of a relevant competent person scheme can self-certify certain types of building work, including the installation of solar PV, avoiding the need to seek separate building regulations approval. You are advised to check your installer is a member of a scheme covering the work they will be undertaking.

Further information

• For more information on planning matters, including pre-application planning advice and LDC’s, please visit your LPA webpages and the Planning Portal.
• Historic England's guide to the installation of solar panels on historic buildings
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
• Competent person schemes