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Planning permission guidance
Guidance for homeowners and businesses. Making changes to listed buildings. Development in conservation areas. Installing renewable energy sources.
Planning permission for renewable energy sources
We declared a climate emergency in 2019. Encouraging greener buildings is a top priority in our climate change strategy. We encourage installing renewable energy and heating systems. Also, retrofitting homes and business premises in Southwark.
You can usually install renewable energy and heating systems sources such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, air or ground source heat pumps without needing planning permission. This applies if the system meets certain conditions. These include the size and location of the system, and heritage rules.
If you're unsure if your proposal needs planning permission, use our checker service.
You can then apply for a lawful development certificate (LDC) if you want to be certain that your project does not need planning permission.
Pre-application service
If your proposal needs planning permission, use our free pre-application service for renewable energy, heat and retrofit projects.
Community Energy London
Boiler upgrade scheme
Through the boiler upgrade scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
Adding solar panels to your property
When installing solar panels on your property, consider:
- applying for planning permission if you live in a conservation area or in a listed building
- installing panels on south, east or west-facing roofs (don't fit them on a north-facing roof as it gets too little sunlight)
- if anything is blocking the light, for example, a large tree or a nearby building (this could limit the amount of energy generated by the panels)
- installing only if your roof pitch angle is between 30 and 40 degrees (if you want to install panels to a flat roof, you may need planning permission)