Air conditioning and solar panel installers in Hampshire

Solair covers homes across Hampshire, from Basingstoke and Winchester in the north and centre of the county down towards the Solent towns. We install air conditioning, solar panels and home batteries, and every job starts with a free survey and a fixed, written price.

Who handles planning in Hampshire

Hampshire County Council does not decide householder planning applications. That job sits with the local borough or district council, such as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Test Valley, East Hampshire, Hart or Rushmoor. Southampton and Portsmouth are separate unitary councils. If your home is inside the New Forest or South Downs National Park, the national park authority is the planning authority instead.

This is set to change. The government has confirmed that Hampshire’s councils will be replaced by new unitary councils from 1 April 2028. Until then, nothing changes for residents, and you deal with your current council.

Permitted development and protected areas

For most houses in England, roof solar panels and, since 29 May 2025, air conditioning outdoor units (air-to-air heat pumps) are permitted development, so no planning application is needed as long as size and siting limits are met.

Hampshire has a lot of historic towns and villages, so it pays to check first. Listed buildings always need listed building consent. Conservation areas and national parks bring tighter rules, and some councils go further with Article 4 directions. In Basingstoke, for example, the Town Centre, Fairfields, South View and Brookvale West conservation areas have Article 4 directions that can bring solar panels on street-facing roof slopes under planning control. Winchester City Council, by contrast, says it has not placed Article 4 directions on single-family houses in its conservation areas. We check your address before we quote.

Homes, roofs and the local network

Housing across the county is very varied: thatched and timber-framed cottages in the villages, Victorian and Edwardian terraces in the older towns, and large post-war and modern estates in places like Basingstoke. Each affects where panels and outdoor units can go, and the survey looks at roof direction, shading and wall space on site. If you live in a flat, you will usually need the freeholder’s consent for an outdoor unit or panels.

Hampshire sits in the SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) area. When you add solar panels or a battery, the network operator must be notified, and Solair does that paperwork for you. Residential solar and batteries carry 0% VAT until 31 March 2027. You can see how the two work together on our solar and battery page.