Planning and installing solar thermal systems

When planning and installing solar thermal systems in your home it's important to consider whether you need to gain any kind of special solar panel planning permission. As it stands, in England right now, solar regulations mean you're not required to gain solar panel planning permission, provided they fit within the below criteria.

Solar legislation says that installation on a roof or wall is allowed as a permitted development provided:

• The equipment is installed on the wall or roof of the dwelling and that it does not protrude more than 200mm above the roof
• The highest part of the equipment is below the highest part of the roof, excluding any chimneys

Note: Glow-worm's Clearly Solar flat plate collectors installed with an in-roof kit meet this solar regulation. An application for solar panels planning permission is recommended for on-roof installations of these flat plate collectors.

The highest part of the equipment is below the highest part of the roof, excluding any chimneys.

Certain additional conditions apply when planning and installing solar thermal systems to listed buildings, World Heritage Sites and in conservation areas for which further advice should always be gained.

Installation of a stand alone solar system (i.e. an A-frame installation) is allowed as a permitted development provided:

• The highest point of the installation is less than 4m above ground level.
• The installation is more than 5m from the boundary of the property.
• You will not need solar panel planning permission if the total surface area of the panels does not exceed 9m² and no dimension of the array is greater than 3m in total.
• There is only one array installed.

Certain additional conditions apply to listed buildings, World Heritage Sites and in conservation areas for which further advice should always be gained.

Separate legislative changes are being considered for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and for commercial premises although, at present, existing planning laws remain in force which means in these cases you should always contact your council to confirm whether solar planning permission is needed.

For more information about planning permission or submit a planning application visit www.planningportal.gov.uk.