
Do you need planning permission for solar panels on a commercial building?
The demand for commercial solar panel installations this year has surpassed everyone’s predictions and that demand does not look like it is going to slow down. Yet for many, there are lots of questions that needed answered about solar panels including – do you need planning permission to install a solar panel?
Solar panel installation are subject to normal building regulations including of course, checking whether your existing roof can support the extra loads of a solar panel installation. At Low Energy Services, we are solar panel installers who can carry this out for you as part of our initial site survey.
Beyond the existing building regulations, there are other things to consider including:
The new solar panel system should be installed so that it minimises its external appearance on the building
The solar panel installation can not be higher than the building itself (this excludes any chimneys). The solar panel system cannot protrude more than 0.2 metres from the plane of the roof slope.
Planning permission may be required when you are intending of installing solar panels on a flat roof. This is because, due to the nature of the install, flat roofing solar panel installs need to be angled and therefore protrude beyond the 0.2 metres normally allowed.
Listed buildings commonly used for office use require consent and planning permission for solar panels to be fitted.
If your property is in a conservation zone, it may be difficult to gain permission for a solar panel installation though not impossible. Planning can be a complicated route however but our solar panel installers can advise you on how best to proceed with permission applications.