Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Belmont conservation area
In the Belmont conservation area (Exeter), 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 Exeter covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 20 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. 701 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 51.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 63.9% heat with a gas boiler and 60.8% are rated D–G; 2 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
701homes with an energy certificate
51.2%solid walls, no insulation
63.9%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Exeter covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (2023 Article 4 Direction)
What needs planning permission in Belmont
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: 20 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: 64% 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 = 701)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
359
51.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
97
13.8%
Cavity wall, filled
68
9.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
61
8.7%
Timber frame
35
5.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
31
4.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
16
2.3%
Solid wall, insulated
9
1.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
8
1.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
7
1.0%
Other or not known
5
0.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
448
63.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
239
34.1%
Communal heating
8
1.1%
LPG
3
0.4%
Heat pump
2
0.3%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
116
16.5%
Under 200 mm
95
13.6%
200 mm or more
112
16.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
94
13.4%
Flat or other home above
272
38.8%
Other
12
1.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
590
84.2%
Single glazed
95
13.6%
Secondary glazing
16
2.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 24 (3.4%) · C 251 (35.8%) · D 287 (40.9%) · E 119 (17.0%) · F 14 (2.0%) · G 6 (0.9%). Houses and bungalows: 36% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 24 April 1986.
Compared with Exeter and England
Share of homes
Belmont
All 20 areas in Exeter
England
Solid walls, no insulation
51.2%
35.2%
48.7%
Gas boiler
63.9%
69.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
60.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 60% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 31 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 Exeter if in doubt.
Boundary: Exeter City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015012, reference CA03, 18.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.