Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Church Street, Epsom conservation area
In the Church Street, Epsom conservation area (Epsom and Ewell), 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 Epsom and Ewell covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. The area has 22 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. 205 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 39.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 94.1% heat with a gas boiler and 57.6% 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
205homes with an energy certificate
39.5%solid walls, no insulation
94.1%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Epsom and Ewell covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. (Church Street (Epsom))
What needs planning permission in Church Street, Epsom
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 22 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 3). 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: 52% 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 = 205)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
81
39.5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
44
21.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
26
12.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
18
8.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
11
5.4%
Cavity wall, filled
9
4.4%
Timber frame
8
3.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
4
2.0%
Solid wall, insulated
3
1.5%
Other or not known
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
193
94.1%
Communal heating
11
5.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
23
11.2%
Under 200 mm
53
25.9%
200 mm or more
28
13.7%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
23
11.2%
Flat or other home above
73
35.6%
Other
5
2.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
156
76.1%
Single glazed
34
16.6%
Secondary glazing
15
7.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 8 (3.9%) · C 79 (38.5%) · D 63 (30.7%) · E 47 (22.9%) · F 7 (3.4%) · G 1 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 48% of the homes; solar panels on 0.5% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 16 November 2010.
Compared with Epsom and Ewell and England
Share of homes
Church Street, Epsom
All 28 areas in Epsom and Ewell
England
Solid walls, no insulation
39.5%
34.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
94.1%
76.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
57.6%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 48% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 22 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 Epsom and Ewell if in doubt.
Boundary: Epsom and Ewell Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44001971, reference 10/00009/CONARA, 10.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.