Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Central conservation area
In the Central conservation area (Cheltenham), 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 Cheltenham covers part of this area (about 7% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 873 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. 14,648 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 51.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 71.3% heat with a gas boiler and 56.5% are rated D–G; 86 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
14,648homes with an energy certificate
51.3%solid walls, no insulation
71.3%heated by a gas boiler
86heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Cheltenham covers part of this area (about 7% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (St Pauls Ward)
What needs planning permission in Central
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: 873 in the area (grade I: 5, II*: 47). 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: 63% 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 = 14,648)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
7,520
51.3%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
2,547
17.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
1,291
8.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
882
6.0%
Cavity wall, filled
793
5.4%
Timber frame
434
3.0%
Other or not known
387
2.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
359
2.5%
Solid wall, insulated
176
1.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
166
1.1%
Solid wall, partly insulated
55
0.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
20
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
18
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
10,446
71.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
3,444
23.5%
Communal heating
644
4.4%
Heat pump
86
0.6%
Oil
12
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
10
0.1%
LPG
5
0.0%
Other
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
1,355
9.3%
Under 200 mm
2,496
17.0%
200 mm or more
2,237
15.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
1,639
11.2%
Flat or other home above
6,128
41.8%
Other
791
5.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
10,706
73.1%
Single glazed
3,552
24.2%
Secondary glazing
348
2.4%
Triple glazed
39
0.3%
Other
3
0.0%
CDE
Energy rating: A 38 (0.3%) · B 1,169 (8.0%) · C 5,160 (35.2%) · D 5,755 (39.3%) · E 2,118 (14.5%) · F 312 (2.1%) · G 96 (0.7%). Houses and bungalows: 37% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 2 August 1987.
Compared with Cheltenham and England
Share of homes
Central
All 7 areas in Cheltenham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
51.3%
50.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
71.3%
72.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
56.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 55% 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 Cheltenham if in doubt.
Boundary: Cheltenham Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016340, reference 05/00006/CONARA, 594.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.