The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) introduced changes to solar permitted development rights in November 2023, following a consultation held in February 20231. The change is recorded in a government review of the barriers to adapting historic homes for energy efficiency, published on 3 January 2024, which covers England1.
The same review records a separate planning change. DLUHC published a revised National Planning Policy Framework in December 2023, which for the first time includes a policy stating that local planning authorities should give significant weight to the need to support energy efficiency and low carbon heating improvements to existing buildings1.
"DLUHC introduced changes to solar permitted development rights in November 2023."
The review does not set out the detail of the November 2023 solar changes, and the specific provisions have not been reported. What the review does record is a related announcement on heat pumps: at the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on 23 November 2023, the government said it would consult on amending the existing permitted development right for air source heat pumps to remove the requirement that all parts of the development must be at least one metre from the property boundary1. Separately, MCS has opened a consultation on changes to the MCS 020 Standard, the noise assessment referenced in permitted development rights, based on the recommendations of research1.
The review also sets out the scale of the historic housing stock that planning rules touch. It cites Historic England's 2022 data showing approximately 350,000 listed dwellings in England and an estimated 2.8 million homes in conservation areas, and Council Tax data showing 5.9 million UK buildings (21%) were built before 1919, with a further 4.3 million (15%) before 19441. It reports that 54% of owners and occupiers think it is difficult to find reliable guidance about how to retrofit listed homes1.
| Source of retrofit guidance, as reported | Share of owners and occupiers |
|---|---|
| Local councils | 16% |
| Architects | 14% |
| Builders | 13% |
| Professional organisations | 9% |
| Historic England | 8% |
| UK Government sources | 7% |
| Local heritage organisations | 4% |
Why it matters for households
Permitted development rights are what allow many homes to install solar panels without a full planning application, so any change to them alters what a household can put on a roof, and under what conditions, without seeking consent. The November 2023 change sits alongside the wider framework of permitted development rights for home energy equipment, which also governs flat roof installations and how far panels may protrude from a pitched roof. Where an Article 4 direction applies, permitted development is withdrawn and a full application is needed regardless.
For a household, the practical effect is on the balance between what can be installed as of right and what requires an application, which in turn affects cost and timescale. The review's own framing is that improving energy efficiency and protecting historic and architectural interest are compatible goals, and that appropriate retrofit of historic buildings is part of the route to Net Zero1. It notes that retrofit of listed homes and homes in conservation areas can be more challenging and costly because of the specific skills and materials required and the additional permissions needed in some cases1.
The review also records that some historic buildings are exempt from having an Energy Performance Certificate where complying with minimum energy efficiency requirements would require installing recommendations that would unacceptably alter their character or appearance1.
What happens next
The review states that the government would consult on amending the air source heat pump permitted development right to remove the one metre boundary requirement, announced at the Autumn Statement on 23 November 20231. MCS has opened a consultation on changes to the MCS 020 noise assessment standard1. The outcome of the November 2023 solar changes, and any further amendment to the solar permitted development right, has not been reported.