Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in The Downs conservation area
In the The Downs 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 part of this area (about 16% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 77 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. 1,405 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 63.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 76.7% heat with a gas boiler and 67.7% are rated D–G; 9 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
1,405homes with an energy certificate
63.6%solid walls, no insulation
76.7%heated by a gas boiler
9heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Bristol covers part of this area (about 16% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Clifton Ward (1999 ward boundary); Henleaze; Redland Ward (1999 ward boundary))
What needs planning permission in The Downs
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: 77 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 4). 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: 69% 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 = 1,405)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
894
63.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
92
6.5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
87
6.2%
Cavity wall, filled
85
6.0%
Timber frame
79
5.6%
Other or not known
58
4.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
47
3.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
31
2.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
13
0.9%
Solid wall, insulated
12
0.9%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
4
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,077
76.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
195
13.9%
Communal heating
121
8.6%
Heat pump
9
0.6%
LPG
1
0.1%
Oil
1
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
194
13.8%
Under 200 mm
220
15.7%
200 mm or more
150
10.7%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
174
12.4%
Flat or other home above
630
44.8%
Other
37
2.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
979
69.7%
Single glazed
362
25.8%
Secondary glazing
55
3.9%
Triple glazed
9
0.6%
CDE
Energy rating: A 2 (0.1%) · B 53 (3.8%) · C 399 (28.4%) · D 617 (43.9%) · E 278 (19.8%) · F 46 (3.3%) · G 10 (0.7%). Houses and bungalows: 31% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 18 February 1981.
Compared with Bristol and England
Share of homes
The Downs
All 34 areas in Bristol
England
Solid walls, no insulation
63.6%
43.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
76.7%
62.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
67.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 53% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 26 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 44010608, reference CA20, 317.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.