Solar and battery for Herne Bay town centre

Herne Bay grew as a resort after London investors built a pier and promenade in the 1830s, and the white Clock Tower on the front dates from 1837. Much of the late Victorian seafront architecture is still standing, so the streets behind the gardens are tall brick terraces, converted houses and flats.

The Heron ward is the town centre, and the 2021 Census counted 6,058 households in it. About 23% are in purpose-built flats and 13% in a converted or shared house, the highest flat share of any Herne Bay ward, against 29% detached and 19% semi-detached. For many of those homes the roof is not yours to change, so we start with who owns it, and plug-in solar on a balcony or in a communal garden may be the quicker first step.

The national planning data lists a Herne Bay conservation area record dating from 1970. Inside a conservation area panels must not go on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure that fronts a highway. A roof slope facing the road is not caught by that rule, but the council can add its own advice, so we check your exact address first.

What we check at your address

• Whether your street falls inside the Herne Bay conservation area record
• Who owns the roof, and whether the freeholder or management company must agree
• Roof pitch, flat-roof sections and where a battery could be fixed indoors