Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Raikes conservation area
In the Raikes conservation area (Blackpool), 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 Blackpool covers this area and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, wind turbines on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), chimneys, flues and soil pipes, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 3 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. 1,120 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 2.4% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 62.9% heat with a gas boiler and 63.1% are rated D–G; 3 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
1,120homes with an energy certificate
2.4%solid walls, no insulation
62.9%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Blackpool covers this area and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, wind turbines on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), chimneys, flues and soil pipes, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Article 4 Direction - C3 to C4 HMO; Article 4 Direction - Conservation Area (Raikes Hall))
What needs planning permission in Raikes
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)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 14 Class G
Solar panels on a pitched roof (up to 0.2 m proud, not above the ridge)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
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)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 3 in the area. 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: 65% 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 = 1,120)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, filled
488
43.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
454
40.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
72
6.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
35
3.1%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
27
2.4%
Timber frame
18
1.6%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
11
1.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
10
0.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
4
0.4%
Other or not known
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
705
62.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
353
31.5%
Communal heating
56
5.0%
Heat pump
3
0.3%
LPG
2
0.2%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
176
15.7%
Under 200 mm
164
14.6%
200 mm or more
293
26.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
72
6.4%
Flat or other home above
405
36.2%
Other
10
0.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,098
98.0%
Single glazed
19
1.7%
Triple glazed
3
0.3%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.1%) · B 25 (2.2%) · C 387 (34.6%) · D 466 (41.6%) · E 196 (17.5%) · F 33 (2.9%) · G 12 (1.1%). Houses and bungalows: 35% of the homes; solar panels on 0.4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 9 February 2015.
Compared with Blackpool and England
Share of homes
Raikes
All 7 areas in Blackpool
England
Solid walls, no insulation
2.4%
5.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
62.9%
61.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
63.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 58% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 13 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 Blackpool if in doubt.
Boundary: Blackpool Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44017408, reference Bpl_CA001, 25.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.