Planning Rules for Solar Canopies on Non-Domestic Off-Street Parking

Are you considering installing a solar canopy over an off-street parking area that isn't for residential use? If you want this project to proceed without needing a full planning application – a process known as 'permitted development' – you must ensure it meets specific criteria.

Here are the key conditions you need to satisfy:

• If your solar canopy will be situated above a surface that allows water to drain through it (a 'permeable' surface), you are required to establish a system. This system must divert any rainwater runoff from the canopy to another part of the off-street parking area that is also permeable or porous, allowing the water to soak into the ground.

• When the solar canopy and its associated equipment are no longer needed, you must remove them as quickly and practically as possible.

An Important Point for Leaseholders:

If you are not the freehold owner of the property, but instead hold a lease, you might need to secure approval for your plans from your landlord, the freeholder, or the company managing the property before installation.

For a complete understanding of these regulations and the official legal text, please consult:

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2, Part 4, Class B.