Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Brookvale West conservation area
In the Brookvale West conservation area (Basingstoke and Deane), 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 Basingstoke and Deane covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. 295 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 24.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 90.5% heat with a gas boiler and 73.9% are rated D–G; 0 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
295homes with an energy certificate
24.7%solid walls, no insulation
90.5%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Basingstoke and Deane covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Basingstoke Town and Chineham and the surrounding villages of Old Basing, Oakley and Sherborne St John.)
What needs planning permission in Brookvale West
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)
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)
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)
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 18% 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 = 295)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
120
40.7%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
73
24.7%
Cavity wall, filled
66
22.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
16
5.4%
Timber frame
7
2.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
1.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
3
1.0%
Solid wall, insulated
3
1.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
0.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
267
90.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
28
9.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
46
15.6%
Under 200 mm
128
43.4%
200 mm or more
82
27.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
15
5.1%
Flat or other home above
23
7.8%
Other
1
0.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
268
90.8%
Single glazed
21
7.1%
Secondary glazing
6
2.0%
CDE
Energy rating: B 1 (0.3%) · C 76 (25.8%) · D 168 (56.9%) · E 46 (15.6%) · F 4 (1.4%). Houses and bungalows: 82% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1999.
Compared with Basingstoke and Deane and England
Share of homes
Brookvale West
All 43 areas in Basingstoke and Deane
England
Solid walls, no insulation
24.7%
24.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
90.5%
62.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
73.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 52% 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 Basingstoke and Deane if in doubt.
Boundary: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016242, reference 8449, 8.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.