Balcony solar in Manchester

Manchester apartment balconies

Mill and warehouse conversions

Ancoats, Castlefield and the Northern Quarter are full of converted mills and warehouses. Some have steel balconies added during conversion, which is what railing kits are made for.

Many of these buildings are listed, or sit in a conservation area. Check with Manchester City Council before anything goes on the outside.

City-centre towers

Deansgate, Spinningfields, the Green Quarter and Salford Quays have newer high-rise blocks, often with glass balustrades. Glass needs brackets the maker approves for glass, and higher floors catch more wind, so expect your building to ask about fixings.

Converted houses and low-rise blocks

In Chorlton, Didsbury, Withington and Sale, many flats are in converted Victorian and Edwardian houses or two and three-storey blocks. Balconies are smaller and lower, which keeps fixings simple. Check what yours is made of: timber is out.

Cladding checks

Since 2017, many blocks across Manchester and Salford have had their external walls checked, and some have needed remediation. Plug-in solar can't go on a building with timber, ACM, MCM or HPL cladding, or one having remediation, so ask about that first.

Talking to your building manager

In most city-centre blocks, start with the building manager or concierge. They'll know who the managing agent is and how requests are handled.

1. Is there any cladding on the building, or remediation planned?
2. Is there a rule about what can go on balconies?
3. Who gives consent, and do they need a formal application?

Then send your request in writing to whoever gives consent.

Permission letters

Delivery across Greater Manchester

We deliver to all ten Greater Manchester boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. Kits go by courier to your door.

Plenty of city-centre blocks have a concierge or parcel room, but not all of them will take a box this size. Check before you order. Our delivery page covers lifts and stairs.

The electricity network operator for the whole of Greater Manchester is Electricity North West.

Elsewhere in Great Britain

Our guides use Manchester examples, but the plug-in rules are the same across England, Scotland and Wales, and we deliver to all three. Planning rules for flats in Scotland and Wales differ, so check with your council there.