Solar panels in a conservation area

In a conservation area in England solar panels on a roof slope are normally permitted development (up to 0.2 m proud, not above the ridge); on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure facing the road they need planning permission, on a flat roof the council's prior approval, and on a listed building always permission. 9,543 of the 1,931,175 homes with an energy certificate inside conservation areas (0.5%) have solar panels recorded on the certificate. Rules as at 21 October 2026; EPC register November 2026.

Data: EPC register November 2026 (latest certificate per home), conservation area boundaries 3 November 2026, permitted development rules as at 21 October 2026 · calculated 5 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

Am I in a conservation area? Check a postcode first: the rules below apply only inside one.

What needs planning permission

Solar panels on a house are permitted development under Part 14 Class A of the General Permitted Development Order 2015. On a pitched roof they may stand no more than 0.2 m proud of the roof slope and not above the ridge, and this applies in a conservation area too.

A conservation area adds limits: panels must not go on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure that faces the road, and on a flat roof (panels up to 0.6 m above it) the council's prior approval of their appearance is needed.

On a listed building solar panels are not permitted development at all: they need planning permission and listed building consent. Homes in a block of flats have their own, tighter rules.

General Permitted Development Order 2015, Schedule 2 (England), text as at 21 October 2026: legislation.gov.uk. National rules for houses, not a planning decision; building regulations still apply. If in doubt, ask the council.

Article 4 directions

A council can remove this permitted development right with an Article 4 direction. Of the 6,655 conservation areas with a page, 36 overlap an Article 4 direction that, by its published data, removes it; in 508 more a direction overlaps the area but its data does not say which rights it removes; for 3,581 areas the council does not publish its Article 4 directions on planning.data.gov.uk. 116 of the 306 councils with conservation areas publish them; a direction can exist on paper without being in the data, so check with the council.

Can I fit solar panels in a conservation area?

On a pitched roof, usually yes, if they stand no more than 0.2 m proud and not above the ridge; not on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure facing the road; on a flat roof the council's prior approval of appearance is needed (Part 14 Class A). On a listed building they are not permitted development at all, and an Article 4 direction can remove the right.

The homes inside conservation areas, by region

Latest energy certificate of each home whose address point lies inside a conservation area; a home inside two overlapping areas is counted once. Shares are of the homes whose certificate records that feature.

Most homes with solar panels on the certificate

Highest share of homes with solar panels (areas with 100 or more homes)

By region: areas with the most homes with solar panels

East Midlands

• Brant Broughton 21
• Welbourn 20
• Dallington 15
• Sutton Passeys 12
• Braunston 11

East of England

• Ely 28
• Welwyn Garden City 21
• Mile Cross 16
• Ramsey and Bury 15
• Hertford 14

London

• The Watling Estate 22
• Wimbledon North 19
• Belgravia 15
• Crouch End 15
• Wandsworth Common 14

North East

• Durham City 30
• Hexham 11
• Norham 11
• West End 10
• Holy Island 9

North West

• Wycoller 14
• Grange over Sands 13
• Longtown 13
• Kendal 11
• Fairfield 10

South East

• Burford 29
• Charlbury 22
• Preston Park 20
• Western Escarpment 15
• Finstock 14

South West

• Bath 91
• Central 48
• Stapleton and Frome Valley 38
• Buckfastleigh 24
• Weston-super-Mare 23

West Midlands

• Royal Leamington Spa 34
• Shrewsbury 22
• Bournville Village 18
• Lozells and Soho Hill 16
• Luston 16

Yorkshire and The Humber

• Roundhay 24
• Nether Edge 21
• Kelham Island and Neepsend 19
• Ilkley 17
• Harrogate 16

Caveats

• An energy certificate describes a home when it was assessed; later work (a new heat pump, panels, insulation or windows) is missing until a new certificate is lodged.
• 6,142 of the 6,655 conservation areas with a page contain at least one listed building; for a listed building the national rules above do not give permitted development rights for heat pumps or solar panels, and works need listed building consent.
• Boundaries and Article 4 directions: councils via planning.data.gov.uk. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their address (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.

Other guides: Heat pumps · External wall insulation · Replacement windows · Am I in a conservation area? · All rules and all conservation areas