# Solar Panels Dartford # Solar panels in Dartford: town-centre terraces, West Hill and homes on the Green Belt edge *Last reviewed: 29 October 2026. Figures are estimates unless stated; method and sources are given beside each one.* Dartford has fewer heritage restrictions than most Kent towns. The borough has only [six conservation areas](https://www.dartford.gov.uk/planning-3/conservation-areas), and just one is in the town itself. For most homes, the decision comes down to which roof face to use and whether the numbers work. Most Dartford households own their home, many with a mortgage. ## Homes in the town Town, West Hill, Brent, Princes, Heath and Newtown wards (Census 2021, [Census 2021](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021)): - 36.5% terraced, 34.3% semi-detached, 21.3% flats, 7.8% detached - 67.2% owner-occupied: 29.2% own outright, so most owners have a mortgage - 19.7% private rented, 11.2% social rented *[TS044](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts044), [TS054](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts054); our ward sums.* If you have a mortgage or a shared-ownership lease, check its terms on alterations before you commit. Shared owners usually need the housing provider's consent for roof work. ## Modelled yield PVGIS models a point near the town centre at about 10 m above sea level, with a skyline of 1.1° to the south. OrientationkWh/kWp/yrExampleSouth1,0243.5 kWp ≈ 3,590 kWhSouth-east9673.5 kWp ≈ 3,380 kWhSouth-west9613.5 kWp ≈ 3,370 kWhEast8162 + 2 kWp east-west ≈ 3,250 kWhWest807North548not usually worth it*Estimates from [PVGIS](https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/) 5.3 (EU Joint Research Centre, SARAH3 data): 1 kWp mounted on a building at 35°, 14% system loss, terrain horizon included, run for one point in the town on 29 October 2026. Long-run averages, so any single year will differ.* A south-facing kWp gives about 125 kWh in July and about 36 kWh in December. **Not sure which slope to use in Dartford?** Let RoboMo™ model each roof face, then compare installer prices against the same plan. [Model my roof](https://kilowatts.uk/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/compare/) [Request quotes](https://kilowatts.uk/services/#get-quote-now) ## Costs - 2.5 kWp: about £4,600 - 3.5 kWp: about £6,500 - 4 kWp: about £7,400 - 5 kWp: about £8,600 *Estimate basis: [DESNZ solar PV cost data](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data), South East, 2025/26 financial year, £1,858.90/kW (systems to 4 kW) or £1,721.49/kW (4–10 kW), times size, rounded. Batteries are priced separately below.* Residential solar has 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 ([HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086)). For storage, the [Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/battery-storage/) gives about £1,500 to £10,000 by capacity. The [battery calculator](https://kilowatts.uk/batteries/) compares battery sizes against your usage. ## Planning: the town centre and West Hill The [Dartford Town Centre conservation area](https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/44014577) was designated in 1980 and covers much of the commercial centre. The council's [2006 appraisal](https://dartford.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s4979/Conservation%20Area%20APPENDIX%20A.pdf) divides it into eight character areas, including West Hill and Highfield Road, and the 17th-century group in Overy Street. Dartford Borough Council's [Article 4 page](https://www.dartford.gov.uk/planning-3/restrictions-permitted-development-article-4-directions) explains how directions work. The national planning data lists two on West Hill: [31 to 35 West Hill](https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/6102761) and [Hampden Place, 73 to 87 West Hill](https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/6102763). If you live at one of those addresses, ask the council what the direction covers before fitting panels. **National rules for every Dartford house** ([GPDO Part 14, Class A](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-a-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-solar-equipment-on-domestic-premises), as amended by [SI 2026/896](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/896/contents/made) from 27 August 2026): in a conservation area, panels on a *wall, balcony or roof enclosure* fronting a highway are not permitted development. Elsewhere on a house, pitched-roof panels must stay within 0.2 m of the slope and below the ridge, and panels on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure may project up to 0.4 m, or 0.2 m where it abuts a highway. Listed buildings are excluded. **Green Belt.** Land around the town, such as Wilmington, is in the [Dartford Green Belt](https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/610060). The Class A roof rules make no exception for Green Belt, so roof panels on a house there follow the same national limits. Ground-mounted garden arrays fall under [Class B](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-b-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-standalone-solar-equipment-on-domestic-premises). **HMO rules.** The council's [HMO Article 4 page](https://www.dartford.gov.uk/policy-1/new-planning-rules-houses-multiple-occupation-dartford) explains that a direction north of the A2 has applied since 8 December 2025 and was confirmed on 23 February 2026. A second direction south of the A2 takes effect on 10 December 2026. These control turning a house into a shared house, not solar panels. ## Grid UK Power Networks runs the local network. Systems within 16 A per phase are notified after fitting under [G98](https://www.energynetworks.org/assets/images/Resource%20library/G98%20Single%20Premises%20Summary%20Guide.pdf); larger ones go through [G99](https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/new-electricity-connections/distributed-energy-resources-der-generation) first. Pick a [Smart Export Guarantee](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2020/02/seg%5Fgenerator%5Fguidance%5F-%5Ffinal%5Ffor%5Fpublication.pdf) tariff for exports. ## Choosing who fits it in Dartford Shortlist two or three businesses from the [Kilowatts UK listings](https://kilowatts.uk/electrical-companies/) and ask for [like-for-like quotes](https://kilowatts.uk/services/#get-quote-now). Like-for-like means the same roof faces, the same system size and the same battery (or none). Get the warranty terms in writing. ## More West Kent guides - [Sevenoaks](https://kilowatts.uk/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/kent/sevenoaks/) to the south · [Tunbridge Wells](https://kilowatts.uk/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/kent/tunbridge-wells/) - [Rochester](https://kilowatts.uk/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/kent/rochester/) along the Thames estuary [Compare solar quotes Start your solar assessment ](/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/compare/)[Free consultation](/booking/) [Battery ROI calculator](/batteries/) Local context ## What matters in Dartford ## Compare solar panels for your property Use the property's postcode and building details for a more useful starting point than a generic local average. [Start your solar assessment](/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/compare/) ## Related solar topics Explore useful topics connected with solar in Dartford. [Kent Renewable Energy](/tags/kent-renewable-energy/)[Panel Efficiency](/tags/panel-efficiency/)[Solar Panel Efficiency](/tags/solar-panel-efficiency/)[Solar Panel Efficiency Uk](/tags/solar-panel-efficiency-uk/)[Solar Panel Output](/tags/solar-panel-output/)[Battery Storage](/tags/battery-storage/) ## Get solar quotes in Dartford Compare installers and prices for solar in Dartford. [Get solar quotes](/services/#get-quote-now) ## Sources - https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg\_tools/en/ - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data - https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/battery-storage/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-a-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-solar-equipment-on-domestic-premises - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086 - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/2020/02/seg%5Fgenerator%5Fguidance%5F-%5Ffinal%5Ffor%5Fpublication.pdf - https://www.energynetworks.org/assets/images/Resource%20library/G98%20Single%20Premises%20Summary%20Guide.pdf - https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/new-electricity-connections/distributed-energy-resources-der-generation - https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts054 - https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts044 - https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census\_2021 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/896/contents/made - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/596/schedule/2/part/14/crossheading/class-b-installation-or-alteration-etc-of-standalone-solar-equipment-on-domestic-premises - https://www.dartford.gov.uk/planning-3/conservation-areas - https://www.dartford.gov.uk/planning-3/restrictions-permitted-development-article-4-directions - https://www.dartford.gov.uk/policy-1/new-planning-rules-houses-multiple-occupation-dartford - https://dartford.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s4979/Conservation%20Area%20APPENDIX%20A.pdf - https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/44014577 - https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/6102761 - https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/6102763 - https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/610060 Solar panels ## Residential solar panels [![AIKO Neostar 3S54 A495-MCE54Mb 495W](/images/panels/aiko-neostar-3s54-a495-mce54mb-495w.jpg) 495WAIKO Neostar 3S54 A495-MCE54Mb 495W AIKO Solar AIKO Solar · 495W View details](/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/solar-panels/aiko-neostar-3s54-a495-mce54mb-495w/)[![UKSOL UKS-S108-M10N-R 460W](/images/panels/uksol-uks-s108-m10n-r-460.jpg) 460WUKSOL UKS-S108-M10N-R 460W UKSOL UKSOL · 460W View details](/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/solar-panels/uksol-uks-s108-m10n-r-460/)[![DMEGC Solar DM460M10RT-B54HBB](/images/panels_resolved/dmegc-solar-dm460m10rt-b54hbb/320.webp) 460WDMEGC Solar DM460M10RT-B54HBB DMEGC Solar DMEGC Solar · 460W View details](/services/residential/renewable-energy/residential-solar-panel-installation/solar-panels/dmegc-solar-dm460m10rt-b54hbb/) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Dartford? Usually not for a house roof, if the panels stay within 0.2 m of the slope and below the ridge. In the Dartford Town Centre conservation area, panels on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure fronting a highway are excluded, and listed buildings always are. Some West Hill addresses have Article 4 directions. ### Does the Green Belt stop solar panels in Wilmington or around Dartford? Not for a house roof. The national rooftop limits make no exception for Green Belt. Ground-mounted garden panels are a separate class with their own limits. ### How much electricity will panels make in Dartford? Our PVGIS estimate is about 1,024 kWh per kWp a year facing south. A 3.5 kWp array gives about 3,590 kWh, or about 3,370 kWh facing south-west. ### How much does solar cost in Dartford? Our estimates using DESNZ 2025/26 South East averages: about £6,500 for 3.5 kWp and about £7,400 for 4 kWp, before any battery. ### Does the Dartford HMO Article 4 direction affect solar? No. It controls changing a house into a small house in multiple occupation, north of the A2 now and south of the A2 from 10 December 2026. Solar panels do not change a property's use. ### I have a shared-ownership home in Dartford. Can I fit panels? Check your lease. Most need the housing provider's consent for roof alterations. Ask before getting quotes.