Solar Energy Scotland has welcomed the removal of the need for planning permission for solar panels on rooftops in Scotland, after the Scottish Government's overhaul of permitted development rights (PDRs) for rooftop solar came into force1. The change to legislation became live on 24th May 20241.
Previously there was a 50 kiloWatt upper limit for permitted rights for rooftop solar on domestic and non-domestic buildings, above which full planning permission was required1. The industry body said the new rules remove costly, time consuming red-tape and will speed up the deployment of solar panels on rooftops1. It follows the removal of non-domestic rates for rooftop solar in last year's budget, which industry also campaigned for1.
Thomas McMillan, Chair of Solar Energy Scotland, said:
"We have campaigned for this change for a number of years. Simplifying the planning process for rooftop solar will make a substantial difference to Scotland delivering 6GW of solar by 2030. With energy costs continuing to be stubbornly high, solar remains one of the most effective ways of reducing the charges of running residential and commercial buildings: this change by the Scottish Government makes the process of installing solar quicker and easier and is warmly welcomed."
The revised rules cover more than pitched roofs. Flat roof systems can be installed under permitted development provided they do not protrude more than 1m from the roof surface1. Solar in conservation areas can be permitted development under certain circumstances, such as not on primary elevations or affronting roads1. Only World Heritage sites and listed buildings are exempt from the changes1.
Other changes include free-standing solar panels permitted within the curtilage of non-domestic buildings, up to 12sqm, and relaxed restrictions for solar canopies, which no longer require their primary purpose to be powering electric vehicle chargers1. The industry aims to continue dialogue with the Scottish Government on whether the 12sqm curtilage limit could be extended in future1.
Scotland and England have now both removed an upper limit to their PDR guidelines, though Solar Energy Scotland notes there are differences based on the type of building, so regulation in each nation should be followed to avoid planning violations1.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Upper limit removed | Previously 50 kiloWatt for rooftop solar on domestic and non-domestic buildings1 |
| Flat roofs | Permitted if protruding no more than 1m from the roof surface1 |
| Conservation areas | Can be permitted development if not on primary elevations or affronting roads1 |
| Exemptions | World Heritage sites and listed buildings1 |
| Free-standing panels | Up to 12sqm within the curtilage of non-domestic buildings1 |
| Solar canopies | No longer required to primarily power EV chargers1 |
Why it matters for households
For a householder, the practical effect is that a rooftop array no longer crosses a planning threshold at 50 kiloWatt, a figure far above typical domestic system sizes, so the change is unlikely to alter the position of most homes on its own. The wider significance lies in the removal of a step that the industry says added cost and delay, and in the confirmation that flat roof systems and some conservation area installations sit within permitted development. Homes in World Heritage sites and listed buildings remain outside the new rules, and the conditions attached to conservation areas mean location still determines whether a proposal needs consent. The body links simpler planning to Scotland's 6GW by 2030 solar target and to lower running costs for buildings, which is the route by which the change reaches household energy independence1.
What happens next
The legislation became live on 24th May 20241. Solar Energy Scotland says it aims to continue dialogue with the Scottish Government on whether the 12sqm curtilage limit for free-standing panels on non-domestic sites could be extended in future1. No further dates have been reported.