Can solar panels be installed on my listed building?
If you own a listed building, you may assume that installing solar panels will either not be allowed or will involve a very complicated process.
That is not necessarily the case. Solar panels can be installed on some listed buildings, but the installation needs to be considered more carefully than it would on an ordinary property.
What do I need to know?
The important thing to understand is that a listed building has additional protection because of its architectural or historic interest.
This does not automatically prevent solar panels being installed, but the position of the array and its effect on the appearance and character of the property can be important.
In some cases, panels may be positioned in a less visible part of the roof, such as an internal valley. In others, it may be better to avoid the main building altogether and consider another suitable location within the property.
You should also expect the question of consent to arise. Work affecting a listed building may require Listed Building Consent, and planning permission can be a separate consideration.
An outbuilding can sometimes provide a practical alternative location for the solar array, allowing the main listed building to remain visually unaffected.
What needs to be done?
The first step is to establish whether there is a sensible and sympathetic way of installing solar on the property.
That means looking not only at the main roof, but also at other possibilities. Depending on the property, this could include an internal roof valley, an outbuilding, or a ground-mounted array within the grounds.
Where roof-mounted solar is unsuitable, a ground-mounted array may provide another option if the site allows.
Once a suitable approach has been identified, the necessary permissions can then be established with the local authority before any work goes ahead.
Is this all going to be too much trouble?
Not necessarily.
A listed building introduces some additional considerations, and there will be properties where solar simply is not suitable. But listed status alone does not mean that solar PV has to be ruled out.
The important point is that there may be more than one way of approaching the installation. If the main roof is unsuitable, another location on the property may provide a better solution.
You also do not need to understand all the planning and heritage requirements before making an initial enquiry. The sensible starting point is simply to find out whether there appears to be a practical way of installing solar on your property.
If you have a listed building and are considering solar PV, it is well worth having a chat with us. We can start by looking at the property and help establish whether there is a sensible way forward.
