Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Kenilworth Road conservation area
In the Kenilworth Road 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 12 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. 436 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 17.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 81.0% heat with a gas boiler and 52.8% 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
436homes with an energy certificate
17.9%solid walls, no insulation
81.0%heated by a gas boiler
1heat 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; Stoneleigh Road)
What needs planning permission in Kenilworth Road
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: 12 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 1). 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: 55% 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 = 436)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
103
23.6%
Cavity wall, filled
98
22.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
78
17.9%
Cavity wall, unfilled
63
14.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
46
10.6%
Timber frame
16
3.7%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
13
3.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
1.8%
Other or not known
7
1.6%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.7%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
353
81.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
78
17.9%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.5%
Communal heating
1
0.2%
Heat pump
1
0.2%
Oil
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
40
9.2%
Under 200 mm
60
13.8%
200 mm or more
91
20.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
57
13.1%
Flat or other home above
161
36.9%
Other
27
6.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
414
95.0%
Single glazed
17
3.9%
Secondary glazing
4
0.9%
Triple glazed
1
0.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 50 (11.5%) · C 156 (35.8%) · D 162 (37.2%) · E 47 (10.8%) · F 16 (3.7%) · G 5 (1.1%). Houses and bungalows: 45% of the homes; solar panels on 0.7% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1967-1975. Designated: 20 December 1968.
Compared with Coventry and England
Share of homes
Kenilworth Road
All 18 areas in Coventry
England
Solid walls, no insulation
17.9%
45.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
81.0%
72.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
52.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 51% 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 Coventry if in doubt.
Boundary: Coventry City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014480, reference CA1, 217.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.