Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Clifton conservation area
In the Clifton 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. 38 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 13% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 92% heat with a gas boiler and 71% 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
38homes with an energy certificate
13%solid walls, no insulation
92%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Epsom and Ewell publishes its Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk and none overlaps this area; a direction can still exist on paper, so check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Clifton
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: 0% 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 = 38)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
15
39%
Cavity wall, filled
8
21%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
5
13%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
1
3%
Solid wall, insulated
1
3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
3%
Timber frame
1
3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
35
92%
Oil
2
5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
1
3%
Under 200 mm
9
24%
200 mm or more
22
58%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
5
13%
Other
1
3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
36
95%
Single glazed
1
3%
Triple glazed
1
3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 1 (3%) · C 10 (26%) · D 19 (50%) · E 6 (16%) · F 2 (5%). Houses and bungalows: 100% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1983-1990. Designated: 20 May 1977.
Compared with Epsom and Ewell and England
Share of homes
Clifton
All 28 areas in Epsom and Ewell
England
Solid walls, no insulation
13%
34.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
92%
76.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
71%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 42% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 24 April 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 44008671, reference 1048, 6.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.