Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Valley Gardens conservation area
In the Valley Gardens conservation area (Brighton and Hove), 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 138 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. 1,264 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 58.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 65.7% heat with a gas boiler and 43.4% 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
1,264homes with an energy certificate
58.1%solid walls, no insulation
65.7%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: Brighton and Hove does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Valley Gardens
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: 138 in the area (grade I: 3, II*: 12). 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: 80% 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 = 1,264)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
735
58.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
144
11.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
121
9.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
70
5.5%
Timber frame
40
3.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
32
2.5%
Solid wall, insulated
31
2.5%
Cavity wall, filled
23
1.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
20
1.6%
Other or not known
20
1.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
14
1.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
13
1.0%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
830
65.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
316
25.0%
Communal heating
117
9.3%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
167
13.2%
Under 200 mm
144
11.4%
200 mm or more
93
7.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
116
9.2%
Flat or other home above
681
53.9%
Other
63
5.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
841
66.5%
Single glazed
342
27.1%
Secondary glazing
78
6.2%
Triple glazed
3
0.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 134 (10.6%) · C 582 (46.0%) · D 383 (30.3%) · E 137 (10.8%) · F 22 (1.7%) · G 6 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 20% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1973.
Compared with Brighton and Hove and England
Share of homes
Valley Gardens
All 34 areas in Brighton and Hove
England
Solid walls, no insulation
58.1%
67.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
65.7%
69.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
43.4%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 64% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 Brighton and Hove if in doubt.
Boundary: Brighton and Hove City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003054, reference 2085, 37.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.