Support ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045
In May 2024, the Scottish Government announced it would ease permitted development rights for rooftop solar, with the proposals coming into effect on 24 May 2024. The measures support ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 and enable consumers to access cheaper electricity tariffs. The changes remove the upper limit of 50 kW on the majority of domestic and non-domestic buildings. Essentially, this will mean that most rooftop solar projects completed outside of a world heritage site or on listed buildings will no longer need planning consent.
The eagerly anticipated legislation is expected to have a “really significant benefit for business and commercial rooftops to help reduce energy costs,” Solar Energy UK said. It went on to detail how the move follows the removal of non-domestic rates for rooftop solar in last year’s budget, which the industry also campaigned for. Both changes will eliminate considerable barriers to rooftop installations.
The new rules allow the installation of flat roof systems under permitted development, as long as they do not protrude more than 1 m from the roof surface. The changes bring Scotland in line with England, where a similar change was made in November 2023. There are some differences depending on the type of building; therefore, detailed planning guidelines in each nation should be followed to ensure that a rooftop solar project stays within the permitted development rights.
In certain circumstances, solar panels can also be considered permitted development in conservation areas, as long as they are not installed on primary elevations or facing roads. The only exceptions to these rules are World Heritage sites and listed buildings.
The chair of Solar Energy Scotland, Thomas McMillan, welcomed the announcement: “We have campaigned for this change for several years. Simplifying the planning process for rooftop solar will make a substantial difference to Scotland delivering 6 GW 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.”