Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Amberley conservation area
In the Amberley conservation area (Horsham), 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 Horsham covers this area and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 58 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. 62 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 66% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 0% heat with a gas boiler and 87% are rated D–G; 8 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
62homes with an energy certificate
66%solid walls, no insulation
0%heated by a gas boiler
8heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Horsham covers this area and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Article 4 Direction)
What needs planning permission in Amberley
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: 58 in the area (grade I: 2, 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: 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 = 62)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
41
66%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
5
8%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
3
5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
5%
Solid wall, insulated
3
5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
3%
Timber frame
2
3%
Cavity wall, filled
1
2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Oil
44
71%
Heat pump
8
13%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
5
8%
LPG
3
5%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
3
5%
Under 200 mm
18
29%
200 mm or more
15
24%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
19
31%
Other
7
11%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
41
66%
Single glazed
15
24%
Secondary glazing
6
10%
DEF
Energy rating: B 4 (6%) · C 4 (6%) · D 8 (13%) · E 29 (47%) · F 15 (24%) · G 2 (3%). Houses and bungalows: 100% of the homes; solar panels on 2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 September 1974.
Compared with Horsham and England
Share of homes
Amberley
All 40 areas in Horsham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
66%
32.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
0%
67.6%
66.4%
Rated D–G
87%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 50% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 7 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 Horsham if in doubt.
Boundary: Horsham District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003564, reference CONARAAM001, 10.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.