Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Friar Gate conservation area
In the Friar Gate conservation area (Derby), 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. The area has 79 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. 915 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 14.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 43.0% heat with a gas boiler and 28.1% 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
915homes with an energy certificate
14.8%solid walls, no insulation
43.0%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Derby does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Friar Gate
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: 79 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 8). 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: 88% 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 = 915)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
368
40.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
255
27.9%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
135
14.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
55
6.0%
Cavity wall, filled
32
3.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
27
3.0%
Other or not known
14
1.5%
Timber frame
11
1.2%
Solid wall, insulated
10
1.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
8
0.9%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
513
56.1%
Gas boiler
393
43.0%
Communal heating
9
1.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
29
3.2%
Under 200 mm
84
9.2%
200 mm or more
111
12.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
80
8.7%
Flat or other home above
523
57.2%
Other
88
9.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
821
89.7%
Single glazed
71
7.8%
Secondary glazing
23
2.5%
BCD
Energy rating: A 6 (0.7%) · B 159 (17.4%) · C 493 (53.9%) · D 178 (19.5%) · E 61 (6.7%) · F 15 (1.6%) · G 3 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 12% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2003-2006. Designated: 1 October 1969.
Compared with Derby and England
Share of homes
Friar Gate
All 15 areas in Derby
England
Solid walls, no insulation
14.8%
40.7%
48.7%
Gas boiler
43.0%
62.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
28.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 63% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 15 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 Derby if in doubt.
Boundary: Derby City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44000859, reference 2701, 23.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.