Ayrshire home owners will soon find it easier to install rooftop solar panels under proposals expected to come into effect next month.

The Scottish Government has announced that it will be easing permitted development rights (PDRs) for rooftop solar. 

These measures support ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 whilst also allowing consumers to access cheaper electricity. 

The proposals are expected to come into effect on Friday, May 24, subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

The changes remove the upper limit of 50kW on the majority of domestic and non-domestic buildings.

This means that most rooftop solar projects outside of a world heritage site or on listed buildings no longer need planning consent, including projects within conservation areas.

The chair of Solar Energy Scotland, Thomas McMillan, also a director of estate agents Savills, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “We have campaigned for this change for a number of years. Simplifying the planning process for rooftop solar will make a substantial difference to Scotland delivering 6GW of solar by 2030.

"With energy continuing to be stubbornly high, solar remains one of the most effective ways of reducing the charges of running residential and commercial buildings: this change by the Scottish Government makes the process of installing solar quicker and easier and is warmly welcomed”.