Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Upperton conservation area
In the Upperton conservation area (Eastbourne), 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. 652 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 64.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 64.4% heat with a gas boiler and 51.1% 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
652homes with an energy certificate
64.9%solid walls, no insulation
64.4%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Eastbourne does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Upperton
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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 95% 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 = 652)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
423
64.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
55
8.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
45
6.9%
Timber frame
33
5.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
23
3.5%
Cavity wall, filled
19
2.9%
Other or not known
15
2.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
14
2.1%
Solid wall, insulated
10
1.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
8
1.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
7
1.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
420
64.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
229
35.1%
Communal heating
2
0.3%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
40
6.1%
Under 200 mm
71
10.9%
200 mm or more
46
7.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
33
5.1%
Flat or other home above
443
67.9%
Other
19
2.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
550
84.4%
Single glazed
93
14.3%
Secondary glazing
9
1.4%
CDE
Energy rating: B 41 (6.3%) · C 278 (42.6%) · D 223 (34.2%) · E 91 (14.0%) · F 14 (2.1%) · G 5 (0.8%). Houses and bungalows: 5% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 2011.
Compared with Eastbourne and England
Share of homes
Upperton
All 12 areas in Eastbourne
England
Solid walls, no insulation
64.9%
45.2%
48.7%
Gas boiler
64.4%
62.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
51.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 49% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 20 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 Eastbourne if in doubt.
Boundary: Eastbourne Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44005480, reference 59, 13.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.