Roofs not fields: an integrated approach to solar PV

As the UK pushes toward a decarbonised future, the demand for renewable energy shows no sign of slowing, writes Dan Fitzpatrick of Anstey Horne.

Simultaneously, our cities are producing and consuming more data than ever before, powering everything from climate control systems to electric vehicle chargers to energy hungry data centres. The grid is under pressure—and the missing megawatts must come from somewhere.

Solar photovoltaics, known as PV, offers an obvious and increasingly mature solution. Whether used to power common areas in residential blocks, serve on-site EV infrastructure, or offset rising service charges in commercial spaces, PV systems are no longer a green bolt-on—they’re becoming a core part of sustainable asset strategy.

Making the most of the built environment

With ongoing debate around the use of agricultural land for solar farms—and with housing rightly a top national priority—rooftop PV is the pragmatic alternative. It turns otherwise underused surfaces into productive, renewable energy assets. But unlocking that potential isn’t just a case of sticking panels on a flat roof.

With more than 16,000 property professionals gathering in Leeds for UKREiiF this week, Anstey Horne took the opportunity to explore the strategic potential of a rooftop solar PV array at Leeds railway station. By integrating solar irradiance modelling with architectural constraints, we produced a visual analysis identifying optimal PV panel locations and estimating their solar energy yield.

The study revealed the potential for what could be the largest rooftop solar array in Leeds, theoretically generating around 1,000 MWh per year—enough to power more than30,000 miles of train journeys to and from the station.

This early-stage assessment offers more than a viability check; it establishes a realistic foundation for future planning, investment, and sustainability ambitions.

Securing the fifth façade: fire performance considerations for solar PV

Each site brings different challenges. Roof structures must be assessed not just for additional loads from PV panels and frames, but also for fire safety and insurability.

Fire legislation is increasingly in the spotlight, especially following incidents involving rooftop battery storage and overheating panels.

While PV systems don’t inherently present high risks, they do introduce new fire loads—particularly when retrofitted to older buildings. Understanding the structural, legal, and insurance implications is essential, and a clear role for surveyors and asset managers.

Furthermore, adding battery storage to PV installations dramatically increases value by enabling self-consumption. Buildings can store energy for use during peak tariff periods or outages, reducing grid reliance and enhancing resilience. But storage introduces further complexity: fire safety, ventilation, system separation, and even tenant communication all play a part.

There’s also the wider question of alignment between fire legislation and sustainability targets. EV bike storage, lithium battery units, and roof-level PV arrays each present new fire dynamics—sometimes sitting uneasily with older codes or insurance models. A joined-up risk assessment that supports both climate and compliance goals is the only way forward.

Solar projects must span multiple professional disciplines and involve the collaboration between sunlight and daylight consultants, building surveyors, project managers, cost consultants, fire engineers, and party wall specialists.

In combining all of these services, Anstey Horne can assess feasibility, manage procurement, handle installation, and provide post-completion evaluation —ensuring that theoretical outputs match real-world performance.

Practical, not performative

Amidt all this, it’s important to remember that solar PV is not about greenwashing. Done right, it delivers measurable operational and economic benefits. The best projects are tailored, not templated, balancing aspiration with practical, physical, and legislative constraints.

The energy transition is not a single decision—it’s a process of many. From rooftop feasibility to project execution and long-term performance monitoring, professionals across disciplines must work together. Above all, we must treat rooftops not just as overhead—but as the overlooked asset class that they are.

• Dan Fitzpatrick is a director at Anstey Horne