Renewable Energy

Renewable energy such as solar panels and heat pumps are permitted development by virtue of Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

To be permitted development, it must meet the criteria in the table below. If it does not meet the criteria, a planning application is required. You can seek confirmation that your renewable energy project is lawful by submitting a lawful development certificate. In some instances, prior approval is required. Details of how to submit a prior approval can be found here.

To understand if your property is listed or in a conservation area.

Solar Panels

Must not be on or within curtilage of a listed building
Must not unreasonably or unduly affect the external appearance or amenity of the area
Must be removed when no longer used

Domestic (dwellings and flat buildings)
On a pitched roof	On a flat roof¹	On a wall	Stand-alone¹
Max 0.2m projection from the roof Not above the highest part of the roof	Max 0.6m projection from the roof	Max 0.2m projection from the wall Not facing the road in a conservation area	Max of 1 Max 4m height (or 2m in a conservation area and forward of the dwelling) Min 5m from the boundary Max 3m dimension and 9m2 area
Non-domestic
On a pitched roof¹	On a flat roof¹	On a wall	Stand-alone¹
Max 0.2m projection from the roof Min 1m from edge of roof	Max 1m projection from the roof Min 1m from edge of roof	Max 0.2m projection from the roof Min 1m from edge of wall Not facing the road in a conservation area	Max of 1 Max 4m height (or 2m in a conservation area and forward of the dwelling) Min 5m from the boundary Max 3m dimension and 9m2 area

¹Prior approval is required where sited in a conservation area and/or facing a road.

Heat Pumps

Must not be on or within curtilage of a listed building
Must be for heating only
Must not unreasonably or unduly affect the external appearance or amenity of the area
Must be removed when no longer used
Air conditioning units that are not ground, water or air source heat pumps require planning permission.

Domestic (dwellings and flat buildings)
Air Source	Water Source	Ground Source
Accords with the installation requirements and Section 3 of the MCS Planning Standards Max 1 pump or turbine Max volume of 0.6m3 Min 1m from the boundary Min 1m from edge of flat roof Not on a pitched roof Not on a wall facing a road or above the ground floor Not forward of the dwelling or facing the road in a conservation area	Max 45kW	Max 45kW
Non-domestic
Max 0.2m projection from the wall Not facing the road in a conservation area	Max 45kW Max area of 0.5 ha	Max 45kW Max 1 Max excavation of 0.5 ha