Solar Together

As part of our commitment to tackling the Climate Emergency, planning policy encourages the use of sustainable options for powering your home, wherever possible and appropriate. One common way to make use of renewable energy is to install solar panels on your property, fixed to a wall or rooftop, or in a ground-mounted, standalone installation.

Use this page to check if you will need to make an application for planning permission or other consents for different types and locations of solar installation, and to understand the principles we will follow when assessing applications. Select a topic below to read more.

The regulations which apply, known as The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (the "GPDO") depend on where you are proposing to locate your solar panel installation.

You will need planning permission if any of the following are true:

• the equipment would protrude more than 0.2 metres beyond the plane of the wall or the roof slope (when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of the wall or roof slope)
• the highest part of the equipment would be higher than the highest part of the roof (excluding any chimney)
• the equipment would be installed on a wall which fronts a highway in a conservation area or a World Heritage Site
• the installation site is designated as a scheduled monument
• the equipment would be installed on a building within the curtilage of a listed building

The installation would be subject to the following conditions:

• equipment would be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building, and the amenity of the area
• when no longer needed, equipment must be removed as soon as is practicable

It is important to check that your roof can take the extra loading. If the roof needs strengthening, Building Regulations approval will be needed. All installation companies should carry out a structural survey of the existing roof. 

One way of installing, altering or replacing your solar power equipment is to install stand-alone, ground-mounted equipment within the curtilage of a house or block of flats. This means locating the solar panels on land which is part of the residential curtilage of the property. It is worth noting that a paddock, or similar area which may be part of the property, could be considered to be outside of the residential curtilage and would require planning permission).

These installations are classed as permitted developments (which do not need planning permission), unless one or more of the following are true:

• there is already a stand-alone ground-mounted solar equipment installation within the curtilage
• any part of the equipment would be taller than 4m
• any part of the installation (including its housing) measures more than 3m in size (length, height or depth)
• the surface area of the solar panels is more than 9m²
• any part of the equipment is sited within 5m of the boundary of the property's curtilage
• the installation is within the curtilage of a listed building or scheduled monument
• any part of the equipment would be closer to the highway than the closest part of the main property (in cases of properties within a conservation area or a World Heritage Site, whose curtilage is next to a highway)

The installation would be subject to the following conditions:

• equipment would be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the amenity of the area
• when no longer needed, equipment must be removed as soon as is practicable

"Curtilage" is the land which forms part and parcel with the house. Usually it is the area of land within which the house sits or to which it is attached such as the garden. Although for some houses, especially in the case of properties with large grounds, it may be a much smaller area.

The above would only apply if permitted development rights have not been removed via a planning condition or Article 4 Direction. You can clarify whether permitted development rights have been removed from a property by requesting a free permitted development rights check by emailing developmentmanagement@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) requesting a 'Permitted development rights check' and giving your full address.

A permitted development rights check will not answer your specific question whether planning permission is required (or not) for your proposed installation and you must therefore check the GPDO 'Schedule 2, PART 14 Renewable energy' and points mentioned above to verify compliance with planning regulations.

The link below will take you to the GPDO 'Schedule 2, PART 14 Renewable energy' which outlines in full the criteria that would need to be met for different forms of renewable energy installations, including solar panels. This link includes the current regulations, however it is worthwhile to note that the regulations are frequently changing.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14 (opens new window)

If you are unsure whether planning permission is required or of the required procedure you may alternatively apply for an informal decision from one of our officers. This can be done by using our "Do I Need Planning Permission?" service. You will need to complete and return the form "Do I Need Planning Permission?", which may be found at: planning advice.

Solar panels on listed buildings or located within the curtilage of a listed building will nearly always require listed building consent. Those on buildings within their curtilages require usually require planning permission as this would not be considered permitted development under the GPDO.

Different legislation applies for planning permissions and listed building consent and so these have different statutory tests. Do not assume that if you have gained one permission, you will automatically also gain the other.

More information on making Listed Buildings more energy efficient

Improving the energy efficiency of an older building can be done sympathetically and without compromising its historic character. Historic England (opens new window) also provide guidance as to how to go about it, including downloadable practical guidance on draught-proofing, insulation and ways of generating your own energy.

Should you require written confirmation as to whether planning permission or listed building consent would be required then you can use our "Do I Need Planning Permission?" service. You will need to complete and return the form "Do I Need Planning Permission?", which may be found at: planning advice.

This type of enquiry will attract a fee the cost of which can be found on our Current pre-application advice charges pages. Your completed form may be submitted by post along with a cheque for the required fee, or alternatively by email, with payment over the phone by credit/debit card following our confirmed receipt of the completed form.

On receipt of your completed form and fee, we will check the planning history and whether permitted development rights have been removed from the property or whether the proposal meets the relevant planning legislation and other possible permissions/consents i.e. any listed building consent, Article 4 directions, conservation area restrictions, etc. We will provide you with a written response with the officer's informal decision as to whether planning permission is/is not required.

As a planning authority, we have a statutory duty to conserve biodiversity, and to take into account protected species, such as nesting birds and roosting bats (opens new window). These duties will be part of our consideration for any proposed works to roofs, when planning permission or listed building consent is required. However, where no application is necessary, it is the responsibility of the property owner to comply with the relevant legislation, and not to do so could be an offence.

We base our assessment of any planning application on both national and local planning policies. View guidance about construction and protected species (opens new window).

Due to the various provisions of the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (the "GPDO"), not all solar panels will require permission. This may lead applicants to perceive that decision-making in this area is inconsistent. However, this is a result of national permitted development regulations, rather council policy.