Solar panels in Broadstairs: making east- and west-facing roofs pay

Last reviewed: 26 October 2026. Figures are estimates unless stated; method and sources are given beside each one.

Many Broadstairs homes do not have a neat south-facing roof. Many roofs face east and west, and bay and gable houses break their roof space into small faces. The good news is that east/west arrays now make sense for many homes, especially with a battery. This page shows what PVGIS predicts for each direction in Broadstairs, what a typical east/west system might cost, and which conservation-area rules apply.

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Broadstairs solar yield by roof direction

PVGIS estimates for central Broadstairs (51.360, 1.432) at a 35° pitch:

Source: PVGIS.

Worked estimate (east/west split):

• 5 kWp split east/west (2.5 kWp on each face) ≈ 2.5 × 828 + 2.5 × 848 ≈ 4,190 kWh a year.
• The same 5 kWp facing south ≈ 5,350 kWh a year.
• Why east/west can still win: the panels produce from early morning to early evening, not mostly around midday. That spread can match a household's usage better and suits battery charging.

Output in Broadstairs is strongly seasonal. PVGIS gives about 132 kWh per kWp for a south roof in June and about 34 in December.

How we got these figures: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), v5.3 PVcalc API, SARAH3 radiation data, 1 kWp crystalline-silicon array, building-integrated/roof mounting, 35° pitch, 14% system losses. Values are long-run annual averages, not a guarantee for any one roof; shading, pitch and panel choice change the result.

What might an east/west system cost in Broadstairs?

• Panels: a 5 kWp system, a common size when both roof faces are used, works out at ≈ £8,600 based on the DESNZ South East average for 4–10 kW systems (5 × £1,721.49). This is an estimate.
• Extra hardware: split arrays usually need a two-input (dual-MPPT) inverter or panel-level optimisers.
• Scaffolding: both faces of the roof may need scaffolding, so ask each quote to itemise it.

Estimate method: system size × the South East mean installed cost per kW for 2025/26 from DESNZ's Solar PV cost data (£1,858.90/kW for 0–4 kW systems; £1,721.49/kW for 4–10 kW). DESNZ figures are averages from MCS-registered installs and include equipment, installation, connection and VAT where applicable; they exclude batteries. Your quotes will differ with roof access, scaffolding, panel and inverter choice.

Adding a battery: the Energy Saving Trust gives battery prices from about £1,500 to £10,000 depending on capacity. A battery stores the late-afternoon output from the west face for the evening. More detail in our home battery storage in Broadstairs guide, or size one with the battery calculator.

Conservation areas in and around Broadstairs

Thanet District Council's conservation area page lists several areas around Broadstairs:

• Broadstairs Conservation Area: designated 5 June 1970, extended 21 October 1986, with North and South extensions added 23 July 2009.
• Kingsgate, Reading Street and St Peter's: separate conservation areas.

Roof panels on a house in a conservation area can still be permitted development if they meet the limits in GPDO Part 14, Class A:

• On a pitched roof, panels must stick out no more than 0.2 m from the slope.
• They must not rise above the ridge.
• They should be sited, as far as practicable, to minimise their effect on the building's appearance.

Two situations do need permission:

• Listed homes: panels on listed homes are excluded. Use the Thanet listed building checker.
• Highway-facing walls and enclosures: in a conservation area, this includes panels on walls, balconies or roof enclosures that front a highway, as clarified on 27 August 2026.

The council goes further than the national wording. Thanet District Council's conservation-area page advises that, in a conservation area, panels sit on the side or rear of the building rather than fronting the highway. In Broadstairs, Kingsgate, Reading Street or St Peter's, plan for a side or rear slope, even when it faces east or west, which is where the figures above matter. Check with Thanet District Council before considering a front slope. If you live in a flat, the same page says flats in a conservation area need permission, so check with the council first.

Read more: Conservation-area solar in Broadstairs and Thanet · Coastal solar and salt air in Kent

Finding an installer for Broadstairs

Our installer directory lists solar and battery firms by area. Shortlist a few, send your saved RoboMo™ project for comparable quotes, and confirm each firm’s MCS status on the MCS website.

Model your own roof faces

The solar generation calculator lets you enter each roof face's direction separately. Or let RoboMo™ map your roof from a pin and save the result as a project you can send for quotes.