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London — Tier-1 Pillar

London Solar PV — MCS, G99, Planning, Conservation Area

London solar PV installation reality. MCS-certified installer, G99 DNO connection, Permitted Development (usually), conservation-area planning restrictions, listed-building refusal, battery storage, SEG export tariffs. £6K-£18K typical.

~2 min read·Updated 2026-04-23

Solar PV on a London roof is one of the simpler energy installations — but only outside conservation areas and on unlisted buildings. Under GPDO 2015 Schedule 2 Part 14, roof-mounted solar PV is Permitted Development in most cases: must not project more than 200 mm from the roof slope, must be sited to minimise impact on amenity, must be removed when no longer in use. On a listed building, Listed Building Consent is mandatory and frequently refused for front elevations. In a conservation area, planning is often required.

The installation itself is regulated by MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) for grant and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) eligibility. Grid connection is notified to the Distribution Network Operator under G98 (≤3.68 kW single-phase) or G99 (over 3.68 kW, three-phase, or battery storage). UK Power Networks (UKPN) handles most London connections — typical 12-week lead time for G99 approval on systems above the G98 fast-track threshold.

Part P applies to the DC-AC inverter connection and any new circuit. An MCS-certified installer typically covers Part P via the installer's competent-person scheme.

AskBaily routes London solar PV to MCS-certified installers with G99 connection experience, battery-storage integration, and conservation-area / listed-building track records where relevant.

Solar PV compliance checklist

  • Planning. Permitted Development on most unlisted, non-conservation-area properties. Full planning often needed in conservation areas.
  • Listed / conservation. Listed Building Consent mandatory. Frequently refused on front elevations.
  • MCS. Installer certification required for SEG and ECO4 eligibility.
  • G98 / G99. DNO notification to UK Power Networks. G99 for >3.68 kW single-phase, three-phase, or battery.
  • Part P. Covered by MCS installer's competent-person scheme.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for London solar panels? Usually not on an unlisted, non-conservation-area property — falls under Permitted Development. Conservation area: check for Article 4. Listed buildings: mandatory Listed Building Consent, often refused.

What is a G99 connection? Engineering Recommendation G99 governs DNO notification and approval for generation systems above 3.68 kW single-phase, all three-phase systems, and systems with battery storage. UK Power Networks typically takes 8-12 weeks.

How much does London solar PV cost? £6,000-£12,000 for a typical 4 kW domestic roof system. £12,000-£20,000 with battery storage. SEG export tariffs recover 5-8p/kWh for exported generation.

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