Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Dorchester 3 conservation area
In the Dorchester 3 conservation area (Dorset), 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 Dorset covers part of this area (about 41% of it) and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. 66 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 95% heat with a gas boiler and 24% 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
66homes with an energy certificate
6%solid walls, no insulation
95%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Dorset covers part of this area (about 41% of it) and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Dorchester Conservation Area)
What needs planning permission in Dorchester 3
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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 68% 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 = 66)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, filled
32
48%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
17
26%
Cavity wall, unfilled
10
15%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
4
6%
Timber frame
2
3%
Other or not known
1
2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
63
95%
Communal heating
2
3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
5
8%
Under 200 mm
6
9%
200 mm or more
20
30%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
8
12%
Flat or other home above
27
41%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
62
94%
Single glazed
3
5%
Secondary glazing
1
2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 8 (12%) · C 42 (64%) · D 10 (15%) · E 6 (9%). Houses and bungalows: 32% of the homes; solar panels on 3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1983-1990. Designated: 22 June 1989.
Compared with Dorset and England
Share of homes
Dorchester 3
All 311 areas in Dorset
England
Solid walls, no insulation
6%
37.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
95%
60.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
24%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 41% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 12 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 Dorset if in doubt.
Boundary: Dorset Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44013816, reference DORC3, 6.2 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.