Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Lady Herbert's Garden and the Burges conservation area
In the Lady Herbert's Garden and the Burges 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 and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, wind turbines on the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. 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. 51 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 22% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 16% heat with a gas boiler and 20% 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
51homes with an energy certificate
22%solid walls, no insulation
16%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Coventry covers this area and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, wind turbines on the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (HMO - 30.9.23; Lady Herberts Garden and the Burges)
What needs planning permission in Lady Herbert's Garden and the Burges
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)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 14 Class G
Solar panels on a pitched roof (up to 0.2 m proud, not above the ridge)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
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)
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
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 (grade I: 3, II*: 0). 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: 78% 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 = 51)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
40
78%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
11
22%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
43
84%
Gas boiler
8
16%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
3
6%
Under 200 mm
4
8%
200 mm or more
4
8%
Flat or other home above
37
73%
Other
3
6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
48
94%
Single glazed
3
6%
BCD
Energy rating: B 31 (61%) · C 10 (20%) · D 6 (12%) · E 1 (2%) · F 1 (2%) · G 2 (4%). Houses and bungalows: 22% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2017. Designated: 8 August 1969.
Compared with Coventry and England
Share of homes
Lady Herbert's Garden and the Burges
All 18 areas in Coventry
England
Solid walls, no insulation
22%
45.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
16%
72.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
20%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 16% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 13 August 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 44014490, reference CA6, 4.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.