Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Lozells and Soho Hill conservation area
In the Lozells and Soho Hill conservation area (Birmingham), 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 Birmingham covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 34 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. 1,070 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 68.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 85.9% heat with a gas boiler and 50.3% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
1,070homes with an energy certificate
68.0%solid walls, no insulation
85.9%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Birmingham covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (CITY WIDE HMO)
What needs planning permission in Lozells and Soho Hill
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: 34 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 2). 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: 46% 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 = 1,070)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
728
68.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
134
12.5%
Cavity wall, filled
118
11.0%
Timber frame
18
1.7%
Solid wall, internal insulation
15
1.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
14
1.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
13
1.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
12
1.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
10
0.9%
Solid wall, insulated
6
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
919
85.9%
Communal heating
79
7.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
68
6.4%
LPG
2
0.2%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
223
20.8%
Under 200 mm
204
19.1%
200 mm or more
250
23.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
81
7.6%
Flat or other home above
301
28.1%
Other
11
1.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,020
95.3%
Single glazed
32
3.0%
Secondary glazing
16
1.5%
Triple glazed
2
0.2%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.1%) · B 31 (2.9%) · C 500 (46.7%) · D 378 (35.3%) · E 139 (13.0%) · F 17 (1.6%) · G 4 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 54% of the homes; solar panels on 1.5% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 19 July 1979.
Compared with Birmingham and England
Share of homes
Lozells and Soho Hill
All 29 areas in Birmingham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
68.0%
31.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
85.9%
46.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
50.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 68% 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 Birmingham if in doubt.
Boundary: Birmingham City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44009836, reference 16, 34.5 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.