Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Steelhouse City Centre conservation area
In the Steelhouse City Centre 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 9 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. 378 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 0.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 0.0% heat with a gas boiler and 2.4% 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
378homes with an energy certificate
0.0%solid walls, no insulation
0.0%heated by a gas boiler
0heat 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 Steelhouse City Centre
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: 9 in the area (grade I: 1, 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: 100% 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 = 378)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
375
99.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
0.8%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
378
100.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
Flat or other home above
287
75.9%
Other
91
24.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
240
63.5%
Secondary glazing
137
36.2%
Triple glazed
1
0.3%
BC
Energy rating: B 170 (45.0%) · C 199 (52.6%) · D 8 (2.1%) · E 1 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 0% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2015. Designated: 14 October 1993.
Compared with Birmingham and England
Share of homes
Steelhouse City Centre
All 29 areas in Birmingham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
0.0%
31.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
0.0%
46.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
2.4%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 19% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 23 June 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 44009843, reference 29, 11.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.