Do I need building regs approval as well as planning?

Yes — separately. All solar installs need to comply with Part P (electrical safety) and Part A (structural) of the Building Regulations. An MCS-certified installer handles this as part of the install, including building control notification via the competent person scheme.

How long does a solar planning application take?

8 weeks is the statutory target. Most domestic solar applications come back in 6–8 weeks. Listed Building Consent runs in parallel and typically takes 8–12 weeks.

What if my install is permitted development but the council disagrees?

You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (£103 application fee in England as of 2026). The council confirms in writing that no permission is needed. Useful for resale — buyers' solicitors increasingly ask for this.

Solar planning permission (UK 2026)

When solar PV is permitted development, when it isn't, and how the rules differ for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The short answer

For 95% of UK homes, solar panels are permitted development — meaning you don't need a planning application. The permission is granted in advance by the planning regulations.

The 5% of cases that do need permission: listed buildings, conservation areas (front-elevation panels), Article 4 directions, flats above the second floor, and any install in a designated National Park or AONB where the installer wants to be cautious.

England: permitted development criteria

Solar PV on a domestic property is permitted under Part 14 of the General Permitted Development Order, provided all of these are true:

Panels do not protrude more than 200mm from the roof slope.
Panels are not installed above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney).
Panels are sited, so far as practicable, to minimise effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area.
If the building is listed: you DO need Listed Building Consent (separate process from planning).
If the building is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site: panels on a wall fronting a highway or on the principal/side elevation visible from a highway are NOT permitted development.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 broadly mirrors England, but with looser rules in conservation areas — Scotland allows rear-elevation panels in conservation areas without an application, where England often requires one.

Wales: Permitted development rules track England closely; Cadw guidance applies for listed buildings.

Northern Ireland: Permitted development for solar is in place but the rules are tighter on AONBs — check with the relevant council.

Listed buildings — the slow lane

Listed Building Consent is a separate, mandatory application for any external alteration to a listed building, including solar PV. It's free to apply but takes 8–12 weeks. Most heritage officers prefer:

Black-frame, all-black panels (less visual contrast vs traditional roofs).
Rear-elevation siting, not visible from the public highway.
Reversible fixings (clamp-on, not bonded to the slate).
No conduit or cabling on the front elevation.

Conservation areas — the grey zone

If your home is in a conservation area, the rule is: rear-roof and side-roof panels (not visible from the public highway) are usually permitted development; front-roof panels are not, and need a planning application.

What counts as 'visible from a highway' is judged by the council's planning officer. Borderline cases — corner houses, semi-detached homes with side roads, terraces with high boundary walls — often need a pre-application consultation (free at most councils, takes 2–3 weeks).

Flats and shared roofs

Owner-occupied flats can install solar with the freeholder's written consent, and an MCS-certified installer who's comfortable with shared inverters. Leasehold flats need to check the lease for restrictions on roof access and external alterations.

Some larger blocks now retrofit shared solar with metering apportioned to each flat — the legal structure is more complex than it sounds and usually needs a solicitor to draft the side agreement.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need building regs approval as well as planning?: Yes — separately. All solar installs need to comply with Part P (electrical safety) and Part A (structural) of the Building Regulations. An MCS-certified installer handles this as part of the install, including building control notification via the competent person scheme.
How long does a solar planning application take?: 8 weeks is the statutory target. Most domestic solar applications come back in 6–8 weeks. Listed Building Consent runs in parallel and typically takes 8–12 weeks.
What if my install is permitted development but the council disagrees?: You can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (£103 application fee in England as of 2026). The council confirms in writing that no permission is needed. Useful for resale — buyers' solicitors increasingly ask for this.