Homeowners will be able to install rooftop solar panels more easily without costly planning delays. This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government Homes and businesses will be able to install rooftop solar panels more easily, under new rules announced today.
The updated rules seek to boost the use of solar panels by removing planning obstacles, helping property owners cut energy bills and reduce emissions. Under the current system, those in the planning process endure an eight-week wait and extra costs whilst they wait to install their panels.
The revised regulations aim to encourage widespread adoption of solar panels, allowing property owners to cut down on energy bills and contribute to reduced harmful emissions. These changes also align with the government's broader efforts to speed up planning processes, as seen in the recently introduced Levelling Up and Regeneration Act.
Homes and businesses will be able to install rooftop solar panels more easily, under new rules announced today. Changes to permitted development rights rules will mean more homeowners and businesses will be able to install solar panels on their roofs without going through the planning system.
Current rules that require businesses to apply for planning permission if solar panels will generate more than one megawatt of electricity will also be scrapped, meaning organisations will be able to install more solar panels on rooftops without the delay and cost of applying for planning permission.
Businesses are already allowed to install solar panels on flat roofs and will soon be able to install panels that generate more than one megawatt of electricity without permission. These changes have been introduced to make it smoother for solar panels to be installed as car park canopies, said the government.