With the UK under a red extreme heat warning and temperatures near 38°C, the case for solar has rarely been more visible: long, bright summer days are exactly when domestic arrays generate hardest and when grid demand from cooling climbs. The rules on installing that solar have just become more generous.
The expanded permitted development rights
Most domestic roof-mounted solar in England is permitted development, meaning no planning application is needed. The limits have been widened:
- Roof panels may now project up to 300mm from the roof slope, up from the previous 200mm limit.
- Panels may cover up to around 70% of the roof area.
- Ground-mounted arrays are permitted up to 3 metres tall and around 15 square metres.
Battery storage installed alongside or independent of solar is generally treated as permitted development too, provided it respects the same principles on visual impact, and batteries installed inside a building usually do not need planning permission.
Listed buildings, conservation areas and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are not covered by these relaxed rights. In those locations you may still need planning permission or listed building consent, so always check before you quote.
Do not forget the grid connection
Planning is only half the picture. A grid-connected system still needs the right notification to the Distribution Network Operator: a G98 notification for the smallest single-property systems, or a G99 application for larger installations. Getting this wrong is one of the most common compliance slips on otherwise sound installs.
Certify the install
However relaxed the planning rules become, the electrical work and the commissioning evidence do not change. An MCS solar PV certificate is what proves the system was installed to standard and unlocks benefits like the Smart Export Guarantee, while the underlying electrical work is recorded on the appropriate installation certificate. If solar is branching you into related work, our EV charger installation guide covers another fast-growing area with its own notification rules.
Check the current limits on the Planning Portal solar panels page before you start.
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Published 2026-06-24. This article is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the relevant standards and consult qualified professionals for definitive requirements.