Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Ramsbottom conservation area
In the Ramsbottom conservation area (Bury), 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 Bury covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 14 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. 951 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 72.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 87.1% heat with a gas boiler and 70.3% 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
951homes with an energy certificate
72.7%solid walls, no insulation
87.1%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Bury covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Bury borough HMO)
What needs planning permission in Ramsbottom
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: 14 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: 25% 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 = 951)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
691
72.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
63
6.6%
Cavity wall, filled
51
5.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
34
3.6%
Solid wall, insulated
34
3.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
28
2.9%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
26
2.7%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
13
1.4%
Timber frame
6
0.6%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.3%
Other or not known
1
0.1%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
828
87.1%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
118
12.4%
Communal heating
2
0.2%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
LPG
1
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
280
29.4%
Under 200 mm
212
22.3%
200 mm or more
210
22.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
111
11.7%
Flat or other home above
118
12.4%
Other
20
2.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
926
97.4%
Single glazed
20
2.1%
Secondary glazing
4
0.4%
Triple glazed
1
0.1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.1%) · B 23 (2.4%) · C 258 (27.1%) · D 435 (45.7%) · E 207 (21.8%) · F 23 (2.4%) · G 4 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 75% of the homes; solar panels on 0.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 27 March 2007.
Compared with Bury and England
Share of homes
Ramsbottom
All 12 areas in Bury
England
Solid walls, no insulation
72.7%
55.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
87.1%
82.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
70.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 52% 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 Bury if in doubt.
Boundary: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015750, reference CA009, 38.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.