Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Steeple Bumpstead conservation area
In the Steeple Bumpstead conservation area (Braintree), 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. The area has 21 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. 158 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 15.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 89.2% heat with a gas boiler and 72.8% 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
158homes with an energy certificate
15.8%solid walls, no insulation
89.2%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Braintree does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Steeple Bumpstead
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: 21 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 3). 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: 3% 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 = 158)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
65
41.1%
Timber frame
41
25.9%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
25
15.8%
Cavity wall, filled
15
9.5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
3.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
1.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
2
1.3%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.6%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
141
89.2%
Oil
10
6.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
5
3.2%
Communal heating
1
0.6%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
12
7.6%
Under 200 mm
62
39.2%
200 mm or more
45
28.5%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
33
20.9%
Other
6
3.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
141
89.2%
Single glazed
14
8.9%
Secondary glazing
3
1.9%
CDE
Energy rating: B 2 (1.3%) · C 41 (25.9%) · D 76 (48.1%) · E 29 (18.4%) · F 9 (5.7%) · G 1 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 97% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 7 August 1969.
Compared with Braintree and England
Share of homes
Steeple Bumpstead
All 37 areas in Braintree
England
Solid walls, no insulation
15.8%
22.2%
48.7%
Gas boiler
89.2%
59.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
72.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 49% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 12 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 Braintree if in doubt.
Boundary: Braintree District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44001089, reference 4444, 15.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.