Getting Planning Permission for Installing Solar Panels on a Commercial Building

If you’re in the process of planning for a solar panel installation at your commercial property and gauging time and budget estimates, knowing whether you need planning permission can help you get a better idea of these project essentials. We’re detailing the rare instances where you’d need planning permission, and the best way to move forward.

Do you need planning permission to install solar panels on a commercial building?

Whether you need planning permission to install solar panels depends on whether they fall under “permitted development”. This refers to the right to carry out building works and changes without needing a planning application.

These questions will help gauge whether your installation is a permitted development:

Where are you looking to install your solar panels?

There are different rules for installing solar panels on the roof or the ground.

Size doesn’t matter for roof-mounted solar panels.

Regardless of how large your solar panel system is and how much energy it’s generating, this is considered permitted development, meaning you don’t need planning permission. Previously, you had to get planning approval for installations of over 1MW. However, that has since been scrapped.

However, the same can’t be said for ground-mounted solar panels. These require planning permission for systems over nine square metres.

Aside from the part of the building, there are also considerations if you’re installing in a protected area, such as a conservation area or the ground of a listed building.

Conservation areas require planning permission if you’re installing the panels where they’re visible from the highway. If you’re installing on a flat roof where they are not visible, this is classified as permitted development.

If you’re installing inside the grounds of a listed building or scheduled monument, you will always need planning permission.

What is the height and protrusion of your solar panels?

Height and how much panels protrude are factors considered by local planning authorities.

If your roof panels protrude 0.2 m over the plane of the slope, there’s less than one metre between the panel and the edge of your roof or your panels exceed the highest point of your roof, you will need planning approval.

For ground-mounted solar panels, you’re fine if they’re less than four metres high—this won’t require planning approval.

At a glance for roof-mounted solar panels

The table below outlines the common reasons you need planning permission for roof-mounted solar panels vs. when you don’t.

At a glance for ground-mounted solar panels

In the table below, we’re listing the common reasons you need planning permission for ground-mounted solar panels vs. when you don’t.

Understanding local regulations for solar panel installations

There are instances where planning approval may be denied for solar panels, including:

• If they were to significantly change the appearance of your property and local neighbourhood.
• If there is a perceived impact on amenities in the local area.
• If your panels would block sunlight for other properties.

These can vary between local authorities, so it depends on how strict they are.

Get clarity on planning permission for commercial solar panel installations

If you’re still unsure or want to take the hassle of understanding the regulations off your shoulders, GlenFarrow is here to help. We provide a turnkey commercial solar panel installation service and can support you with all the time-consuming administrative elements, including planning permission.