Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Coventry Canal conservation area
In the Coventry Canal conservation area (Coventry), 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 Coventry covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 9 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. 1,024 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 10.4% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 72.0% heat with a gas boiler and 20.2% 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
1,024homes with an energy certificate
10.4%solid walls, no insulation
72.0%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Coventry covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (HMO - 30.9.23)
What needs planning permission in Coventry Canal
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: 9 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: 61% 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 = 1,024)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
614
60.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
193
18.8%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
106
10.4%
Solid wall, insulated
50
4.9%
Other or not known
33
3.2%
Timber frame
9
0.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
0.5%
Cavity wall, filled
4
0.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.3%
Cavity wall, unfilled
2
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
737
72.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
283
27.6%
Communal heating
3
0.3%
LPG
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
21
2.1%
Under 200 mm
36
3.5%
200 mm or more
76
7.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
86
8.4%
Flat or other home above
426
41.6%
Other
379
37.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,021
99.7%
Single glazed
2
0.2%
Triple glazed
1
0.1%
BCD
Energy rating: B 498 (48.6%) · C 319 (31.2%) · D 178 (17.4%) · E 27 (2.6%) · G 2 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 39% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2017. Designated: 19 June 2012.
Compared with Coventry and England
Share of homes
Coventry Canal
All 18 areas in Coventry
England
Solid walls, no insulation
10.4%
45.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
72.0%
72.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
20.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 31 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 Coventry if in doubt.
Boundary: Coventry City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014481, reference CA16, 70.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.