Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Dorchester 4 conservation area
In the Dorchester 4 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 38% of it) and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 3 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. 155 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 3.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 95.5% heat with a gas boiler and 69.7% 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
155homes with an energy certificate
3.9%solid walls, no insulation
95.5%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Dorset covers part of this area (about 38% 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 4
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: 3 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: 27% 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 = 155)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
86
55.5%
Cavity wall, filled
30
19.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
16
10.3%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
12
7.7%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
6
3.9%
Timber frame
4
2.6%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
148
95.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
4
2.6%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
1.3%
Heat pump
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
31
20.0%
Under 200 mm
47
30.3%
200 mm or more
39
25.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
8
5.2%
Flat or other home above
20
12.9%
Other
10
6.5%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
150
96.8%
Single glazed
5
3.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 13 (8.4%) · C 34 (21.9%) · D 83 (53.5%) · E 18 (11.6%) · F 6 (3.9%) · G 1 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 73% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 4 January 1990.
Compared with Dorset and England
Share of homes
Dorchester 4
All 311 areas in Dorset
England
Solid walls, no insulation
3.9%
37.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
95.5%
60.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
69.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 42% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 3 September 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 44013817, reference DORC4, 11.0 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.