Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Tenterden conservation area
In the Tenterden conservation area (Ashford), external wall insulation needs planning permission, and so does an air source heat pump on a wall or roof facing the road; one at the back or side, internal and loft insulation and solar panels on a roof slope normally do not. An Article 4 direction published by Ashford covers part of this area (about 2% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 130 listed buildings; on a listed building solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development at all and need planning permission and listed building consent. 845 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 20.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 75.5% heat with a gas boiler and 51.0% are rated D–G; 16 have a heat pump. EPC register November 2026; rules as at 21 October 2026.
Data: EPC register November 2026 (latest certificate per home), conservation area boundaries 3 November 2026, permitted development rules as at 21 October 2026 · calculated 5 November 2026 · Methodology and sources
845homes with an energy certificate
20.6%solid walls, no insulation
75.5%heated by a gas boiler
16heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Ashford covers part of this area (about 2% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (LAND AT PITTLESDEN FARM TENTERDEN)
What needs planning permission in Tenterden
Work (house, not listed)
In a conservation area
Rule
Air source heat pump on a wall or roof facing the road, or nearer the road than the house
Planning permission needed
Part 14 Class G, G.1(j)
Air source heat pump at the back or side (outdoor unit up to 1.5 m³, MCS Planning Standards, one per house — two on a detached house)
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Part 14 Class G
Solar panels on a pitched roof (up to 0.2 m proud, not above the ridge)
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Part 14 Class A, A.2(c)
Solar panels on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure facing the road
Planning permission needed
Part 14 Class A, A.2(e)
Solar panels on a flat roof (up to 0.6 m above the roof)
Prior approval of appearance from the council, unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 130 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 10). The table is for houses that are not listed: on a listed building, solar panels and air source heat pumps are not permitted development at all (they need planning permission), and any of these works needs listed building consent.
Flats: 40% of the certified homes here are flats or maisonettes. Homes in a block of flats have no householder rights for alterations; heat pumps and solar have their own, tighter rules for blocks of flats.
The homes in the area (latest certificate per home, n = 845)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
174
20.6%
Cavity wall, filled
165
19.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
146
17.3%
Timber frame
129
15.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
76
9.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
72
8.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
35
4.1%
Other or not known
29
3.4%
Solid wall, insulated
10
1.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
4
0.5%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
638
75.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
123
14.6%
Communal heating
59
7.0%
Heat pump
16
1.9%
Oil
8
0.9%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
104
12.3%
Under 200 mm
188
22.3%
200 mm or more
202
23.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
115
13.6%
Flat or other home above
165
19.5%
Other
70
8.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
695
82.2%
Single glazed
98
11.6%
Secondary glazing
51
6.0%
Triple glazed
1
0.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 18 (2.1%) · B 94 (11.1%) · C 302 (35.7%) · D 270 (32.0%) · E 132 (15.6%) · F 24 (2.8%) · G 5 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 60% of the homes; solar panels on 0.7% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 10 October 1996.
Compared with Ashford and England
Share of homes
Tenterden
All 44 areas in Ashford
England
Solid walls, no insulation
20.6%
36.1%
48.7%
Gas boiler
75.5%
64.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
51.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 29 October 2026). “No insulation (assumed)” is the assessor's default for older walls.
The rules are England's national permitted development rules (General Permitted Development Order 2015, Schedule 2, as at 21 October 2026). They do not cover building regulations or a council's own conditions. This is not a planning decision: ask Ashford if in doubt.
Boundary: Ashford Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44013493, reference CA-44, 98.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.