PLANNING PERMISSION FOR COMMERCIAL SOLAR PV
Solar Surveys provides Permitted Development assessments, full planning applications and CAD drawing production for commercial solar PV across the UK. We determine planning status under GPDO Schedule 2 Part 14, produce the drawings and technical reports required by the Local Planning Authority, and manage the submission through to planning decision. Most planning clients instruct a structural survey or desktop structural roof loading report at the same stage: both pre-construction requirements resolved under one instruction.
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT OR PLANNING PERMISSION
The Question Every Commercial
Solar Programme Must Answer.
Commercial solar PV on existing buildings often falls within Permitted Development rights under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order: removing the need for a formal planning application. But Permitted Development has conditions: panel protrusion limits, conservation area restrictions, listed building exclusions and visual amenity requirements that must all be assessed against the proposed installation.
Where those conditions cannot be met: or where the Local Planning Authority requires prior notification, screening opinion or full planning consent: our engineers produce the documentation, drawings and supporting reports required to navigate the process. We also provide pre-application guidance on planning status before you commit programme cost to a site. Planning assessment is most efficiently instructed alongside a structural survey or desktop structural roof loading report, covering both pre-construction clearances under one instruction.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Everything the Planning Authority
Needs. Produced In-House.
Permitted Development Assessment
Formal assessment of whether the proposed installation falls within Permitted Development rights: including condition analysis for protrusion, conservation area status, listed building and visual amenity requirements.
CAD Planning Drawings
Site location plan, block plan, roof layout plan and section drawings produced to planning authority requirements: dimensioned, scaled and annotated for direct submission to the LPA.
Planning Statement
Engineering and design-led planning statement addressing national and local planning policy: Renewable Energy policy, NPPF alignment and any site-specific material planning considerations.
Visual Impact Assessment
Where the LPA requires assessment of visual impact: particularly on conservation areas or listed building settings: our engineers produce a structured visual impact assessment with photographic reference.
Prior Approval & Screening
Where prior approval notification is required or where a screening opinion is needed to confirm planning status, we prepare and submit the required documentation to the LPA on your behalf.
LPA Liaison & Response Management
Our engineers liaise directly with the Local Planning Authority, respond to technical queries and manage any requests for additional information: keeping your application moving without requiring your direct involvement.
PLANNING STATUS: QUICK REFERENCE
PD or Full Consent?
The Key Conditions.
Typically Permitted Development
- Flat or low-pitch commercial roof: panels not projecting more than 200mm
- Building not in a conservation area or AONB
- Building not listed
- System below the site's DNO limit for PD
- No Article 4 Directions removing PD rights
- No covenant or lease restriction on planning
Planning Permission Likely Required
- ✕Building is listed or in a conservation area
- ✕Panel protrusion exceeds 200mm from the roof surface
- ✕Site within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- ✕Article 4 Direction in place removing permitted development rights
- ✕Ground-mounted elements included in the installation
- ✕LPA has issued a screening opinion requiring full consent
Permitted Development . Real Layout
A PD-Compliant PV Layout, In Practice.
The drawing below is an anonymised real PV layout produced for a UK commercial PD application. The 1m setback from every roof edge is the binding constraint for permitted development on most flat-roof commercial buildings under GPDO Schedule 2 Part 14 Class A. Get this wrong and the application becomes a full planning consent.
1 m Edge Setback
Mandatory clearance from every roof edge. The CAD layout has to demonstrate this on the drawing, not in a separate note.
Listed Building Test
PD does not apply to listed buildings or to buildings within a Conservation Area facing a highway. Listed-building consent is the parallel track.
200 mm Above Roof Plane
Pitched-roof installations protrude no more than 200mm above the roof plane to remain within PD; out-of-plane mounting on pitched roofs typically forces full consent.
Highway Visibility
Conservation-area buildings with elevations facing a highway need full consent regardless of array footprint. Confirmed at desktop stage.
Drawing shown is an anonymised sample watermarked for illustration. Live deliverables are unwatermarked and client-branded.
HOW IT WORKS
From Assessment to
Planning Decision.
PD Assessment
Site assessed against Permitted Development conditions. Where PD applies, confirmed in writing. Where full consent is required, scope defined and submission strategy agreed with your team.
Drawing Production
Site location plan, block plan, roof layout drawing and any additional technical drawings required by the LPA produced by our CAD engineers and reviewed against submission requirements.
Application Submission
Full planning application or prior approval notification submitted to the Local Planning Authority. Planning statement, supporting reports and drawings submitted as a complete, pre-reviewed package.
Planning Decision
LPA queries managed by our engineers. Decision issued and forwarded to your programme. Approved drawings and consent documentation packaged for installer handover.
Client identities and project specifics are withheld under NDA. Testimonials and case references are presented in anonymous-authoritative format.
"We had a site in a conservation area that we assumed was going to need full planning consent. Solar Surveys assessed it and confirmed the installation: with a minor design adjustment to panel height: actually fell within Permitted Development. That single assessment saved us three months and a planning application fee. We now ask them to assess PD status before we do anything else on any site."
TYPICALLY INSTRUCTED ALONGSIDE
Structural Survey & Desktop Structural Roof Loading Report
Planning status and structural clearance are both required before design commences. Most planning clients instruct an on-site structural survey or Desktop Structural Roof Loading Report at the same stage: covering both pre-construction requirements under one instruction and avoiding sequential delays.
WHO THIS IS FOR
From Desktop Assessment
to Planning Consent
Planning Consent Managed Across Your Portfolio
We assess solar PV viability against local planning policy and determine the correct consent route for each site: permitted development, prior approval or full application, and manage submissions portfolio-wide if required.
Asset Manager Services →Rapid Planning Triage for Pre-Construction Pipelines
We identify which sites require permitted development, prior approval or full planning permission across your pipeline and manage batch submissions: keeping pre-construction programmes moving without planning becoming a bottleneck.
PPA Provider Services →Planning Support Alongside Your Programme
Planning assessments and applications coordinated alongside your structural and electrical submissions. We handle pre-application consultations and consent management for commercial solar PV: single point of contact throughout.
EPC Contractor Services →Planning Route Determined. Application Managed.
We determine the correct planning route for any commercial solar installation and manage the application from initial desktop assessment through to decision: keeping your programme on schedule and compliant.
Solar Installer Services →FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Planning Permission Questions.
How do I know if my commercial solar installation requires full planning permission?
Most commercial rooftop solar installations in England qualify as Permitted Development under Class I of Schedule 2 Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (GPDO), subject to size and height restrictions. Installations that exceed PD limits, are on listed buildings or in conservation areas, or involve ground-mounted arrays on commercial land, require full planning permission. Solar Surveys conducts a desktop PD assessment for every site before committing to a planning route.
What does a full planning application for commercial solar PV include?
A full planning application package includes: site location and block plan, design and access statement, structural suitability confirmation, proposed array layout drawings and any supporting technical documents required by the Local Planning Authority. Solar Surveys manages the application from initial desktop assessment through submission to decision, keeping your programme on schedule.
How long does the planning application process take for solar PV?
Permitted Development confirmations (prior approval or lawful development certificates) are typically determined within 8 weeks. Full planning applications are subject to the standard 8-week determination period, with major applications taking up to 13 weeks. Solar Surveys submits a complete application on first submission to minimise the risk of delays from information requests.
What does GPDO Schedule 2 Part 14 cover for commercial solar PV?
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 14 defines when solar PV equipment qualifies as Permitted Development. Class I covers other land including commercial buildings. Conditions within Part 14 set the protrusion limit, exclusions for listed buildings and conservation areas, and requirements around visual amenity. Solar Surveys assesses compliance with Part 14 conditions for every site and determines the appropriate planning route before any programme commitment is made to a site.
Does Solar Surveys handle planning applications in Scotland and Wales?
Yes. Solar Surveys covers planning applications for commercial solar PV across the UK, including Scotland and Wales. Planning legislation differs between nations: in Scotland the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act applies; in Wales, Technical Advice Notes and Welsh Government planning policy are relevant. Our engineers are familiar with the applicable frameworks in each jurisdiction and produce submissions structured to meet the requirements of the relevant Local Planning Authority.
Planning Cleared Before
Design Commences.
Commission a Permitted Development assessment or full planning application as part of your pre-construction package. We confirm planning status, produce the drawings and manage the process to decision.