Planning & Regulations
Solar planning and regulations in Wales
Whether your project needs planning permission, a G99 DNO application, or listed building consent, this is the definitive guide to Welsh solar regulations in 2026.
Do you need planning permission?
A summary of the most common scenarios under Welsh PDR rules. This is a guide only -- always verify against your specific site before proceeding.
No planning application required. G99 Type A DNO application still needed for commercial systems.
Must not protrude more than 200 mm from roof plane.
Applies to both domestic and commercial. Rear elevation may still be permitted development.
Pre-application advice recommended. In-roof integrated panels preferred by planning officers.
PDR applies in theory but pre-application consultation is strongly recommended.
Applies to all listed buildings regardless of location or visibility. LBC must be obtained before installation.
No permitted development rights for commercial ground-mount arrays. Agricultural PDR applies to some farm buildings.
Source: Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order. Always confirm specific site conditions with your local planning authority or FLD before proceeding.
How FLD handles planning and DNO
Site assessment
We assess the planning status of every site before quoting. If planning is needed, we identify the likely conditions and timeline before you commit.
Pre-application advice
For uncertain cases (AONB boundary, conservation area rear elevations, adjacent listed buildings), we commission a pre-application advice query from the local authority. Typically £25 to £50 and returned in 21 days.
Planning application or PD confirmation
Where planning is required, FLD prepares and submits the application with technical drawings and design statements. Where PD applies, we produce written confirmation for your records.
G99 Type A submission
For commercial systems above 3.68 kWp per phase, we submit the G99 Type A package to NGED or SP Manweb, manage the DNO's technical assessment, and confirm the connection agreement.
Installation and sign-off
All work is signed off under a single NICEIC Approved Contractor certificate. MCS certification is issued where applicable. All documentation is handed over at commissioning.
Building regulations (if required)
Some structural alterations associated with solar installation require building regulations notification. FLD identifies this at survey stage and manages the LA Building Control notification.
Planning and regulations FAQs
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Wales?
What is the difference between planning permission and a G99 application?
How long does a G99 Type A application take?
What is Pennau Brycheiniog National Park's policy on solar?
Planning and policy guides
Solar in Dolgellau and Eryri: dark-stone townscape, in-roof integrated panels and National Park planning
A planning and design guide for solar installation in Dolgellau and the Eryri National Park. Why dark-frame black-panel in-roof integrated systems are the standard specification for LL40, when ENPA pre-application is needed, and payback for Mawddach valley guesthouses.
Solar procurement in upland Powys: Farming Connect grants for Rhayader, Builth Wells and Presteigne hill farms
A guide to solar procurement for upland Powys hill farms -- Farming Connect grant eligibility, the LD2, LD6 and LD8 energy profile, battery storage for grid-resilience, and the procurement process step by step.
Farm solar in the Tywi valley: Llandeilo, Dinefwr and the Carmarthenshire farm payback case
A guide to farm solar for Llandeilo and the Tywi valley -- Farming Connect grants, SFS co-investment, dairy and beef farm payback examples, and why the Tywi flood plain produces the best solar payback figures in Carmarthenshire.
Solar panels in the Wye Valley AONB: Monmouth and Usk planning guide for NP25 and NP15
Planning and design guide for solar installations in Monmouth and Usk within the Wye Valley AONB -- permitted development rules, AONB visibility assessments, in-roof integrated design, and payback examples for NP25 and NP15.
ESOS Phase 4: what Welsh businesses need to do before 5 December 2027
A guide to ESOS Phase 4 compliance for Welsh businesses -- who qualifies, audit requirements, the December 2027 notification deadline, how solar and battery storage interact with energy audits, and FLD's ESOS support service.
Commercial solar permitted development in Wales: what you can install without planning permission
A guide to permitted development rights for commercial solar in Wales -- Schedule 2 Part 40, size thresholds, prior approval, agricultural buildings, and when a full planning application is required.
Solar panels in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park: planning rules and approved designs
A guide to installing solar panels in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park -- permitted development rights, National Park Authority design guidance, agricultural solar, and how FLD manages consent in the park.
Solar panels in Welsh conservation areas: what you can and cannot do without consent
A guide to installing solar panels in Welsh conservation areas -- which permitted development rights apply, when conservation area consent is needed, in-roof versus on-roof design, and how FLD manages the pre-application process.
Gower AONB solar panels: what is permitted and what requires planning in 2026
Definitive guide to solar panel permitted development rights, planning requirements, and design standards in the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ynni Cymru capital grants 2026: who qualifies and how to apply
Welsh Government's Ynni Cymru scheme offers up to £1 million per project for commercial renewable energy. This is the eligibility criteria, application process, and what FLD can provide.
EV charging for Welsh commercial sites: Workplace Charging Scheme and DNO process in 2026
Commercial EV charging in Wales: Workplace Charging Scheme grants, DNO G99 applications, 7 kW vs 22 kW vs 50 kW selection, and OCPP/OCPI basics.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Wales?
Permitted development rights, conservation areas, listed buildings, AONB and National Park rules for domestic and commercial solar in Wales.
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