Solar panels for homes across Dorset, designed and fitted by our MCS-certified team in Christchurch.
Solar panels in Dorset fall under one of two councils, and the address decides which. Since 1 April 2019, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have shared a council of their own, BCP, while everywhere else in the county comes under Dorset Council, which replaced Dorset County Council and the old district councils such as Purbeck and West Dorset. A roof array rarely needs a planning decision from either, but a listed home, or a garden array close to the boundary on protected land, brings one in.
The wires are divided too. SSEN, the distribution operator for central southern England, runs the primary substations at Dorchester and Sherborne, which between them supply more than 22,000 customers. National Grid Electricity Distribution counts the Dorset Council area among the local authorities in its own forecasts, and in 2024 it was National Grid that planned new cables at Lyme Regis to feed a new substation.
Capacity matters too. In its 2024 review of the grid, Dorset Council reported most of the county's network already showing as constrained or partly constrained, with some projects delayed, cut back or cancelled. A home system within the fit-and-notify limit of 3.68kW per phase is reported once it's working; a larger one is applied for first, and where the network is stretched the operator's offer can limit how much it exports. Either way, the paperwork is the DNO step in our process.
Over half of Dorset Council's area is protected landscape. The council puts about 56% of it inside the Cranborne Chase or Dorset National Landscapes, which kept the legal title of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty when they were renamed in November 2023. That makes them article 2(3) land in planning terms, yet on a pitched roof the designation adds no condition for panels, so the same permitted development applies as outside it.
Garden arrays are another matter. A free-standing array within 5 metres of the boundary can stand up to 2 metres high, or 1 metre if it's also in front of the house, but on article 2(3) land, which takes in conservation areas, it has to wait while the council decides whether to approve its appearance. In a World Heritage Site that spot isn't permitted development at all, and nor is one nearer a bordering road than the house.
A conservation area doesn't rule panels out. Dorset Council's guidance confirms that unlisted homes inside one, in places such as Shaftesbury, Wimborne and Corfe Castle, keep their permitted development rights for panels when the criteria are met. Listing is the bigger hurdle: the same guidance expects panels on a listed building itself to be acceptable only in a minority of cases, where parapets hide them on a large or complicated roof, or on a modern extension.
The guidance's case study of Durlston Castle, a Grade II listed building of Purbeck stone near Swanage, shows why: panels on the main roof planes would have caused harm that the public benefit didn't outweigh, so the approved array went on a single-storey modern extension at the rear. For smaller Grade II homes the guidance points to sheds, garage roofs or the back of an outbuilding, though one built before 1 July 1948 that serves the house and shares its owner can count as listed too.
Location shifts output across the county. The Met Office station at Wyke Regis in Weymouth averaged about 1,900 hours of sun each year over the 30 years to 2020. On the European Commission's PVGIS model, a south-facing array tilted at 35 degrees is put at about 1,170 kWh a year per kilowatt of panels on Portland, 1,130 at Dorchester and 1,040 to 1,050 at Shaftesbury and Sherborne, roughly a tenth below Portland.
MCS-certified installers like us must give you a generation estimate before a contract is agreed, but it won't show that spread. The standard method looks up the yield in a table for the postcode zone, and BH and DT postcodes both sit in zone 3, so matching roofs in Portland's DT5 and Sherborne's DT9 start from the same first-year figure, which MCS calls guidance, not a guarantee.
We visit your property for a free, no-obligation assessment - checking orientation, pitch and shading factors to determine the optimal solar setup for your home.
We design your system based on your energy needs and budget, then handle all DNO notifications or applications required.
Our team installs the mounting system, PV panels, DC wiring, and solar inverter - converting your roof into a clean energy generator.
The system is tested, commissioned, and certified. You receive a full handover pack so you can start maximising your solar investment straight away.
5.0 on Google from 23 reviews
Reviews 1–2 of 23
While up on the roof, they noticed several cracked tiles and immediately pointed them out to me, suggesting I get them fixed while the scaffolding was already set up. Rather than rushing to finish their own job, they kindly put their work on hold so I could get the roof repaired. … Finding a trade company with this degree of honesty, integrity, and punctuality is rare.
Adam took the time to understand our needs and provide us with a tailored solar solution that comprised of Roof Panels, Hybrid Inverter, Battery Storage and a solar IBoost. … The whole process was surprisingly smooth and completed in two days.
…it's great to not see the smart meter going up every day and getting money back for generated electricity that we've not used It's a win win delighted customers 😊
…although Adam’s quote wasn’t the cheapest, he took the time to explain the hidden complexities in my setup and his reasoning made complete sense. … The system has been running flawlessly since March, proving he was absolutely right.
We have multiple jobs and works completed by Adam and the team and could not be happier with the work conducted, this has included a rewire of our property and most recently new lights fitted to the entrance of our house set on a PIR brilliant work and to a very high standard.
I had good conversations with Adam beforehand and he suggested the best approach, he handled the required paperwork with the DNO. … he was able to have the wire come right out of the wall into the back of the charger, making it look incredibly neat.
Installed new consumer unit in old house and corrected many faults worked tirelessly for 4 days straight rewiring where necessary, changing sockets earthing system.
Adam from Electrical Exchange came and wired in my Air Conditioning unit. Very friendly and informative from start to finish. … He even chatted me through my existing solar and battery set up where I had a few unrelated questions too.
Adam and Peter have done a wonderful installation on my FastAmps EVCharger From the moment I contacted Adam about the job to completion it was approached in the most professional and efficient manner.
I recently had the latest generation of the Fastamp Alpha 7 home EV charger installed by Adam and his team from Electrical Exchange and I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
Full garden lighting project was completed by Electrical Exchange. Installation of armoured cable, outdoor sockets, down lights, up lights, tree lights and rope lighting around patio. … I would call Adam a perfectionist with his neat and tidy workmanship.
Installed my EV charger and replaced the consumer unit to a very high standard. Professional, tidy, punctual, and took the time to explain everything clearly.
Quoted ordered and fitted Fast Amp charger all within 4 days …commissioned demonstrated all working fine thanks to Adam and Fast Amp 👍
Adam from Electrical Exchange was punctual, professional and completed our electrical work to a high standard. He was friendly and explained everything clearly and he left everything clean and tidy.
Installed a sub-board for an air con unit I was installing…Prompt & polite, works clean & tidy.. highly recommend Adam and his team
…The whole process was clearly explained, they put a mat down when working indoors and left with everything looking great.
I have them as my go to people for various needs around my old outdated Victorian house which has needed that more modern touch.
Adam, was very helpful and really supportive in installing my charger by providing relevant advice and guidance throughout the whole process.
Adam and his team were great. He was on time, tidy and did the job well. There was a problem (not of his making) that he persisted with and managed to solve.
Great company and excellent service from Adam
5 Star service good prices and efficient working practises
Adam of Electrical Exchange Is every good at ther job they put in a (EVEC ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER ) and a ( EDDI ) HAS WELL
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A starting point - get in touch if your question isn't answered here. See every answer
Yes, within the national limits: up to 9 square metres of panels, kept out of the grounds of a listed building. Near the boundary, the National Landscape adds a step, as anything within 5 metres waits on the council's prior approval decision, so siting it further in avoids that wait.
Sometimes, though seldom on the cottage itself. Dorset Council's December 2023 guidance says panels or PV slates on a listed building need listed building consent, and that slates may be acceptable where no historic ones are removed. It suggests sheds, garages and other outbuildings instead, or a ground-mounted array, which would likely need planning permission.
On PVGIS figures for a 35-degree roof facing south, the coast around Portland and Weymouth does well, at roughly 1,150 to 1,170 kWh per kilowatt each year, with Wareham and Swanage close behind at about 1,130 to 1,140. Further inland, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sherborne come out at about 1,040 to 1,050.
No. Weymouth and Portland Borough Council ceased to exist on 1 April 2019, and its area has been part of Dorset Council's since. BCP Council's area is the three towns in its name: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Yes, if the two roofs match in pitch, direction and shading. Both towns' postcodes fall in MCS zone 3, so the standard method reads the same table for each, even though PVGIS expects the Portland array to make about a tenth more over a year.
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