Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Worple Road conservation area
In the Worple Road 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 1 listed building; on a listed building solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development at all and need planning permission and listed building consent. 288 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 30.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 55.6% heat with a gas boiler and 68.4% are rated D–G; 4 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
288homes with an energy certificate
30.2%solid walls, no insulation
55.6%heated by a gas boiler
4heat 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. (Worple Road)
What needs planning permission in Worple Road
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: 1 in the area. 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: 67% 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 = 288)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
87
30.2%
Cavity wall, filled
67
23.3%
Cavity wall, unfilled
56
19.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
46
16.0%
Timber frame
15
5.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
7
2.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
6
2.1%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
0.7%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.3%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
160
55.6%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
122
42.4%
Heat pump
4
1.4%
LPG
2
0.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
20
6.9%
Under 200 mm
63
21.9%
200 mm or more
70
24.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
23
8.0%
Flat or other home above
106
36.8%
Other
6
2.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
252
87.5%
Single glazed
29
10.1%
Secondary glazing
6
2.1%
Triple glazed
1
0.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 11 (3.8%) · C 80 (27.8%) · D 135 (46.9%) · E 46 (16.0%) · F 13 (4.5%) · G 3 (1.0%). Houses and bungalows: 33% of the homes; solar panels on 1.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1967-1975. Designated: 16 December 1987.
Compared with Epsom and Ewell and England
Share of homes
Worple Road
All 28 areas in Epsom and Ewell
England
Solid walls, no insulation
30.2%
34.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
55.6%
76.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
68.4%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 65% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 23 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 44001788, reference 000018/CONARA, 13.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.