Planning for Rooftop Solar on London’s Homes

The Mayor wants to give all Londoners access to affordable, green energy and empower them to better manage their energy use. Solar panels have a crucial role to play in this. 

The Mayor’s  Solar Action Plan (2018) sets out how he will support an increase in solar energy generation in London through a number of initiatives and actions. 

More recently, the Mayor’s ‘Accelerated Green’ preferred pathway to net zero includes an aim for at least 1.5 gigawatts of rooftop solar to be installed by 2030. To achieve this, strong and supportive policy from the national government and the support of the local government, the private sector, charities and individuals is needed. 

One of five key objectives in the Mayor’s Solar Action Plan is to encourage solar energy installations through the planning system. This includes working with boroughs to ensure planning policies do not unnecessarily restrict solar installation on existing properties across London.

To take forward this objective, the Mayor commissioned Land Use Consultants to carry out research into the planning approaches to solar on existing buildings in London. Make recommendations to encourage solar installation through the planning system and ensure planning policies do not unnecessarily hinder solar installation on existing properties.

This research was completed back in Spring 2022 and the research report can be found on, Roof Mounted Planning along with a summary table of all London borough planning policies relating to solar. It should be noted that this table was up to date since the end of April 2022.  

The Mayor is working with partners to take forward the recommendations in this report to gather support for increasing solar panel installation in London. 
 

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