Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Matlock Bath conservation area
In the Matlock Bath conservation area (Derbyshire Dales), 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 35 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. 204 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 73.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 87.3% heat with a gas boiler and 79.9% 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
204homes with an energy certificate
73.5%solid walls, no insulation
87.3%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: Derbyshire Dales does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Matlock Bath
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: 35 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: 38% 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 = 204)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
150
73.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
15
7.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
11
5.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
7
3.4%
Cavity wall, filled
6
2.9%
Solid wall, insulated
5
2.5%
Timber frame
5
2.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
1.5%
Other or not known
1
0.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
178
87.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
21
10.3%
Heat pump
2
1.0%
Communal heating
1
0.5%
LPG
1
0.5%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
38
18.6%
Under 200 mm
51
25.0%
200 mm or more
54
26.5%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
19
9.3%
Flat or other home above
42
20.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
145
71.1%
Single glazed
46
22.5%
Secondary glazing
9
4.4%
Triple glazed
4
2.0%
CDE
Energy rating: B 2 (1.0%) · C 39 (19.1%) · D 91 (44.6%) · E 54 (26.5%) · F 13 (6.4%) · G 5 (2.5%). Houses and bungalows: 62% of the homes; solar panels on 0.5% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 8 September 1972.
Compared with Derbyshire Dales and England
Share of homes
Matlock Bath
All 31 areas in Derbyshire Dales
England
Solid walls, no insulation
73.5%
57.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
87.3%
69.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
79.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 50% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 16 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 Derbyshire Dales if in doubt.
Boundary: Derbyshire Dales District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44000991, reference 4113, 88.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.