Solar that disappears into the roof
Solar Creative is a design-led solar studio. We design solar roof tiles, flush in-roof systems and BIPV for architects, self-builders and owners of period homes. Looks matter here, because the roof is on show.
Integrated, not bolted on
Slate, in-roof and BIPV systems read as part of the building. As a result, you see no frames and no brackets.
Heritage & conservation
We design discreet solar for listed buildings. However, the real aim is to satisfy the conservation officer.
For architects & self-builders
We join your design team as a specialist. Together we settle the array while the drawings are still open.
Most solar is specified last, and looks like it
Framed panels on aluminium rails are dropped onto whatever roof area is left. For many homes, that is a compromise nobody wants. For a period property it is often a poor fit, since the roof is on show.
We believe solar should be designed, not bolted on. Because every building differs, we pick the right system for each one. Then we lay the array out against the roof.
Our solar roof tiles and slates suit new roofs, while a flush in-roof array suits a roof you want to keep. For bolder schemes, BIPV turns the envelope itself into a generator.
Because many clients live in sensitive places, our conservation area and listed building solar work is built around consent. Every scheme also gets bespoke solar design to fit the roof.
What we design
All services →Solar Roof Tiles & Slates
Building-Integrated PV (BIPV)
In-Roof & Flush Solar
Conservation-Area & Listed-Building Solar
Bespoke Solar Design
A materials palette, not a product range
Because we are independent of any one maker, we can choose from three families of integrated solar. The choice depends on the building, the budget and how the roof is seen.
Solar slates & tiles
Solar slates are laid within the roof covering. As a result, the roof reads as natural slate from the street.
In-roof flush arrays
High-output modules sit in the roof plane on a weathertight tray. They lie level with the tiles, while a rack sits above them.
Building integrated PV
Solar becomes a building material for roofs, façades and canopies. The surface still generates as it weathers and shades.
From Georgian terraces to contemporary self-builds
Our portfolio spans slate matched arrays on listed farmhouses and flush in-roof zones on new homes. It also includes integrated roofs on architect led self-builds. Every project starts with the elevation, because that is what people see.
See the kind of work we do →Where we work
We work across England, Scotland and Wales. Our area guides explain the local planning picture. For example, see solar for Bath's World Heritage streets or solar in London's conservation areas.
We also cover Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, Oxford's historic core and the Cotswolds National Landscape. However, our reach is national, so ask about any other place.
How a project runs
The full process →Design consultation
We learn the building, the ambition and the constraints. However, we never quote before we know the roof.
Survey & feasibility
We take a measured look at the roof and orientation. We also check the planning position, since it shapes the design.
Planning & consent
We deal with permitted development and listed building consent. Meanwhile, we talk to conservation officers.
Detailed design & install
We write the specification and detail each junction. Thus the installer works from clear drawings.
From the journal
Planning is often the first question. Our guide to solar panels in conservation areas and what the rules say sets out the basics. It explains when you need consent, although each council differs.
If you are new to the products, start with our guide to solar roof tiles in the UK. Then read what BIPV is and how it works, because it shapes the wider design.
Questions we're often asked
What makes Solar Creative different from a standard solar installer?
Most installers aim for the lowest cost per kilowatt. We start from how the building should look. We specialise in integrated systems, because then the array becomes part of the building.
Can solar really be made almost invisible?
To a large degree, yes. Solar slates laid within the roof covering remove the frames and brackets that make panels obtrusive. However, you can still see the roof up close.
Do you only work on period and listed properties?
No. Heritage work is a core specialism, but we also work on contemporary self-builds and new homes. What our projects share is that appearance matters as much as output.
Where do you work?
We work across England, Scotland and Wales. The studio works by appointment, since there is no shopfront. Design starts with your drawings and a site survey.
Tell us about your building
Share a few details and we will reply by email. There is no obligation and no sales call.
Have a project in mind?
Tell us about the building and the ambition. We will suggest the right next step.