Rules

Planning permission and network approval for solar in Broadstairs

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Written for Broadstairs, Kent. Figures are estimates, not quotes.

The national rules

The Planning Portal sets out the rules for a house roof in England. On a pitched roof, panels should not go above the highest part of the roof (not counting the chimney) and should project no more than 200mm from the slope. In a conservation area or World Heritage Site, panels must not be fitted to a wall, balcony or roof enclosure that fronts a highway. A roof slope facing the road is not caught by that wall rule, but see the council's advice below. Panels must not be installed on a building within the grounds of a listed building.

The equipment should also be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise the effect on the building's appearance and the amenity of the area, and removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed. Flats have their own rules. The Planning Portal blog says a 12-month transition lets some projects use the old rules until 26 August 2027.

Conservation areas in Broadstairs

Thanet District Council lists 27 conservation areas across the district. Four name Broadstairs places: Broadstairs (designated 1970, extended 1986 and 2009), Kingsgate, Reading Street and St Peter's. Its guidance is stricter than the national wall rule: for a house that is not listed or a flat, panels should sit no more than 0.2 metres above the roof slope, should not pass the highest part of the roof and should not face the highway, so a side or rear slope is the usual answer. The council confirms Article 4 Directions only for Ramsgate, Ramsgate Marina and Pegwell, none in Broadstairs. Always check your own address on the council's conservation area map.

Network operator approval

The DNO is the company that runs the local power lines. South Eastern Power Networks, part of UK Power Networks, serves Kent. Small systems follow the simpler G98 notification route, and larger ones need approval first under G99. Your installer works out which applies and handles the form. We did not open the Energy Networks Association rules this time, so ask your installer for the current limits.

MCS and building rules

An MCS certificate is what many suppliers need before they pay export rates. The work must also meet Building Regulations and electrical safety rules. Our MCS-certified installation partner handles the paperwork for rooftop installs.

1. Check your property. Is it listed, in a conservation area, or a flat? Use the council's map.
2. Choose the roof slope. In a conservation area, favour a side or rear slope, and keep panels off any wall that fronts the road.
3. Get a survey and design. An MCS installer designs the system and says whether G98 or G99 applies.
4. Tell or ask the DNO. The installer notifies the network operator, or applies first for a larger system.
5. Install and certify. After fitting you get an MCS certificate and the electrical paperwork, then you can apply for export payments.

Questions people ask

Sources

• Planning Portal: solar equipment mounted on a house or block of flats
• Planning Portal blog: changes to permitted development rules for domestic solar
• Thanet District Council: conservation areas
• UK Power Networks: who we are (South Eastern Power Networks area)

More guides

• What solar and a battery cost for a Broadstairs house
• Current UK solar and battery benefits (October 2026)
• Smart Export Guarantee rates explained
• Is a home battery worth it with the SEG?
• Plug-in solar for Broadstairs flats and rented homes
• What size solar battery do I need?
• Solar only, battery only, or both?
• 0% VAT on solar and batteries explained
• Solar panels near the sea: what to ask for
• Cheap overnight tariffs and a battery only
• Pairing an EV charger with solar and battery