Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Portland and Brunswick Square conservation area
In the Portland and Brunswick Square conservation area (Bristol), 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 Bristol covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 39 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. 745 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 21.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 37.6% heat with a gas boiler and 36.1% 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
745homes with an energy certificate
21.1%solid walls, no insulation
37.6%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Bristol covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Ashley Ward, Cabot Ward, Clifton East Ward, Cotham Ward and Lawrence Hill Ward (1999 ward boundary))
What needs planning permission in Portland and Brunswick Square
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: 39 in the area (grade I: 7, II*: 1). 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: 98% 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 = 745)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
297
39.9%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
157
21.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
93
12.5%
Other or not known
58
7.8%
Timber frame
45
6.0%
Cavity wall, filled
39
5.2%
Solid wall, insulated
29
3.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
17
2.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
5
0.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
415
55.7%
Gas boiler
280
37.6%
Communal heating
49
6.6%
LPG
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
8
1.1%
Under 200 mm
23
3.1%
200 mm or more
45
6.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
42
5.6%
Flat or other home above
521
69.9%
Other
106
14.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
563
75.6%
Single glazed
172
23.1%
Secondary glazing
10
1.3%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 138 (18.5%) · C 338 (45.4%) · D 193 (25.9%) · E 64 (8.6%) · F 8 (1.1%) · G 4 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 2% of the homes; solar panels on 0.5% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 19 June 1974.
Compared with Bristol and England
Share of homes
Portland and Brunswick Square
All 34 areas in Bristol
England
Solid walls, no insulation
21.1%
43.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
37.6%
62.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
36.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 14 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 Bristol if in doubt.
Boundary: Bristol City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44010590, reference CA8, 10.5 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.