Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the requirement to apply for a lawful development certificate to install solar panels on the number of solar panels installed.

There are existing permitted development rights which allow for installation of solar equipment on and within the curtilages of domestic and commercial premises without having to make a planning application. The rights are set out in Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended.

There is no requirement under the regulations to seek a lawful development certificate from the local authority before installing solar panels. However, this is something that a homeowner may decide to do in order to obtain written confirmation that any such proposals are lawful for planning purposes.