3 places you can't install plug-in solar panels — the new planning rules that could ruin your grand designs for your balcony

In the UK, new planning rules have been implemented to regulate the installation of plug-in solar panels. These rules specify where and where you cannot install these panels without requiring planning permission. The rules mainly pertain to permitted development, which allows homeowners to make changes without planning permission. However, if the solar panels don't meet the permitted development rules, permission from a planning officer is necessary, and a fee may be required.

Three locations where plug-in solar panels are not permitted without planning permission include:

1. Wooden surfaces: In both flats and houses, plug-in solar systems are not allowed if the panels or any part of the system is installed on wooden balconies, walls, or any other timber exterior. This is done to prevent fire risks.

2. High above the roof: The panels must not project more than a certain distance from the roof or the wall depending on the type of roof. For pitched roofs, the panels cannot extend more than 20cm beyond the roof slope. For flat roofs, they should not sit more than 60cm above the highest point of the roof. These limits are to avoid altering the roofline, causing shadows on neighboring houses, or putting extra stress on the roof due to wind.

3. Too far from the wall: If the solar panels are mounted on the wall, they should not protrude more than 40cm from the outside of the wall for houses not near a highway, and 20cm for those right next to a highway. This rule is stricter if the house is located in a conservation area or a World Heritage Site, where solar panels on walls near highways are not allowed without planning permission.