Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Titchfield conservation area
In the Titchfield conservation area (Fareham), 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 Fareham covers part of this area (about 8% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), chimneys, flues and soil pipes, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 84 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. 184 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 49.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 97.8% heat with a gas boiler and 71.2% 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
184homes with an energy certificate
49.5%solid walls, no insulation
97.8%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Fareham covers part of this area (about 8% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), chimneys, flues and soil pipes, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Titchfield)
What needs planning permission in Titchfield
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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: 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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: prior approval of appearance from the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: no permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 84 in the area (grade I: 1, 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: 11% 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 = 184)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
91
49.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
36
19.6%
Cavity wall, filled
21
11.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
18
9.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
6
3.3%
Timber frame
4
2.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
1.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
3
1.6%
Solid wall, insulated
2
1.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
180
97.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
3
1.6%
LPG
1
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
30
16.3%
Under 200 mm
61
33.2%
200 mm or more
64
34.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
13
7.1%
Flat or other home above
10
5.4%
Other
6
3.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
130
70.7%
Single glazed
34
18.5%
Secondary glazing
20
10.9%
CDE
Energy rating: B 6 (3.3%) · C 47 (25.5%) · D 87 (47.3%) · E 37 (20.1%) · F 7 (3.8%). Houses and bungalows: 89% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1969.
Compared with Fareham and England
Share of homes
Titchfield
All 13 areas in Fareham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
49.5%
28.7%
48.7%
Gas boiler
97.8%
78.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
71.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 50% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 21 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 Fareham if in doubt.
Boundary: Fareham Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015926, reference 70, 19.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.