Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Chipping Campden conservation area
In the Chipping Campden conservation area (Cotswold), 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 Cotswold covers part of this area (about 31% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 209 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. 365 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 52.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 89.9% heat with a gas boiler and 71.8% are rated D–G; 2 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
365homes with an energy certificate
52.6%solid walls, no insulation
89.9%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Cotswold covers part of this area (about 31% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Article 4 Direction Chipping Campden)
What needs planning permission in Chipping Campden
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: 209 in the area (grade I: 5, II*: 18). 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: 18% 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 = 365)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
192
52.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
84
23.0%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
21
5.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
19
5.2%
Solid wall, insulated
15
4.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
12
3.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
2.2%
Cavity wall, filled
7
1.9%
Timber frame
4
1.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.3%
Other or not known
1
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
328
89.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
32
8.8%
Oil
3
0.8%
Heat pump
2
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
77
21.2%
Under 200 mm
55
15.1%
200 mm or more
80
22.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
102
28.0%
Flat or other home above
25
6.9%
Other
25
6.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
272
74.5%
Single glazed
60
16.4%
Secondary glazing
32
8.8%
Triple glazed
1
0.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 21 (5.8%) · C 82 (22.5%) · D 174 (47.7%) · E 72 (19.7%) · F 13 (3.6%) · G 3 (0.8%). Houses and bungalows: 82% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 7 January 1970.
Compared with Cotswold and England
Share of homes
Chipping Campden
All 144 areas in Cotswold
England
Solid walls, no insulation
52.6%
59.2%
48.7%
Gas boiler
89.9%
45.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
71.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 46% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 1 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 Cotswold if in doubt.
Boundary: Cotswold District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014669, reference CONARA/085, 56.5 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.