Solar Panels

What are solar panels?

Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which can be used in your building, used to charge up an on-site battery storage system, or exported back to the National Grid. You may be considering installing solar panels as part of retrofitting an existing building or when constructing a new building.
 

Permitted Development Rights 

When fitting solar panels to an existing building, you may have opted to install these under Permitted Development Rights (meaning you do not require Planning Permission). Permitted Development Rights are subject to a number of conditions, and we would advise that you seek confirmation from the Planning Department at East Herts Council to check if Planning Permission is required prior to any purchase or installation. If your building is a Listed Building, you may require Listed Building Consent for installing solar panels, and in some instances Listed Buildings will not be suitable for installing solar panels. Similarly, permission is also required where an Article 4 Direction has been put in place, which removes selected Permitted Development Rights. Please visit our planning pages for more information.

The Interactive House on the Planning Portal is another useful source of information.

All solar panel installations must comply with Building Regulations, and you will need to notify Building Control of your proposals. You will need to check that the roof can support the additional wind, snow and static load imposed by the solar panels, and that it complies with Part A: Structure. This must be done by a qualified structural engineer. 
 

Installation 

We would recommend you always use a qualified installer. Once installed the solar panels (or other solar technology) should only need minimal maintenance, but you should note the manufacturer’s recommendations for the model you choose. It is important to minimise any damage to the roof covering by carefully planning how the array is installed, maintained, and removed at the end of its useful life. 

The Energy Saving Trust have devised a useful guide and FAQ page on Solar Panels which you may find helpful.

If you live in a Listed Building or Conservation Area you may also wish to refer to the Historic England guidance on solar panels. 

For more detailed information on Solar Panels please read our information document.