The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026

This Order may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026.

This Order comes into force on 27th August 2026.

This Order extends to England and Wales.

In this Order, “the GPDO” means the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015^f1.

for the words before sub-paragraph (a), substitute—

“Development not permitted: block of flats

(1)

Development is not permitted by Class A on a block of flats, or a building within the curtilage of a block of flats, if—”;

after sub-paragraph (d), omit the “or”;

for sub-paragraph (e), substitute—

“(e)

the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a block of flats, or on a building within the curtilage of a block of flats, if the block of flats is a listed building; or”;

after sub-paragraph (e), insert—

“(f)

in the case of plug-in solar, where any part of the plug-in solar would be installed on a wooden wall, balcony or enclosure or on any part of the exterior of a block of flats which is clad in timber.”;

after sub-paragraph (f), insert—

“Development not permitted: dwellinghouse

(2)

Development is not permitted by Class A on a dwellinghouse, or a building within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse, if—

(a)

in the case of solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a wall, it would result in—

(i)

where the wall abuts on a highway, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment protruding more than 0.2 metres beyond the plane of the wall when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of that wall; or

(ii)

in any other case, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment protruding more than 0.4 metres beyond the plane of the wall when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of that wall;

(b)

in the case of solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a balcony enclosure or roof enclosure, it would result in—

(i)

where the enclosure abuts on a highway, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment protruding more than 0.2 metres beyond the enclosure when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of that enclosure; or

(ii)

in any other case, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment protruding more than 0.4 metres beyond the enclosure when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of that enclosure;

(c)

in the case of solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a pitched roof, it would result in either or both of—

(i)

the solar PV or solar thermal equipment protruding more than 0.2 metres beyond the roof slope when measured from the perpendicular with the external surface of the pitched roof slope;

(ii)

the highest part of the solar PV or solar thermal equipment being higher than the highest part of the roof (excluding any chimney);

(d)

in the case of solar PV or solar thermal equipment on a flat roof, it would result in the highest part of the solar PV or solar thermal equipment being more than 0.6 metres higher than the highest part of the roof (excluding any chimney);

(e)

in the case of land within a conservation area or which is a World Heritage Site, the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure which fronts a highway;

(f)

the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a site designated as a scheduled monument;

(g)

the solar PV or solar thermal equipment would be installed on a dwellinghouse, or on a building within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse, if the dwellinghouse is a listed building; or

(h)

in the case of plug-in solar, where any part of the plug-in solar would be installed on a wooden wall, balcony or enclosure or on any part of the exterior of a dwellinghouse where that part is clad in timber.”

In Class B, in paragraph B.1 (development not permitted)—

In Class B, in paragraph B.2, for sub-paragraph (aa), substitute—

“(aa)

where either or both of the following criteria are met—

(i)

any part of the stand-alone solar would be installed in a conservation area and nearer to any highway which bounds the curtilage than the part of the dwellinghouse or block of flats which is nearest that highway;

(ii)

any part of the stand-alone solar would be installed on article 2(3) land and within 5 metres of the boundary of the curtilage,

before beginning development the developer must apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the local planning authority will be required with respect to the impact of the appearance of the stand-alone solar on that conservation area or that article 2(3) land, or both, as the case may be;”.

after the definition of “microgeneration”, insert the following definitions—

• ““plug-in solar” means solar photovoltaics that are intended for connection to the relevant domestic premises’ electricity installation by means of a standard plug and socket;

• “roof enclosure” includes any balustrade, railing, parapet or other enclosure installed on the roof of a building;”;

in the definition of “solar PV”, after “photovoltaics” insert “including plug-in solar”;

after the definition of “stand-alone wind turbine”, omit the “and”;

after the definition of “stand-alone wind turbine”, insert the following definition—

• ““standard plug” and “socket” have the same meaning as in the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994^f1; and”.

Paragraph (2) applies where development (“previously permitted development”)—

Where this paragraph applies, a developer may, despite the amendments made by this Order, carry out previously permitted development until the end of 26th August 2027.