Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Saint Neots Incl Eynesbury and Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford conservation area
In the Saint Neots Incl Eynesbury and Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford conservation area (Huntingdonshire), 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 Huntingdonshire covers part of this area (about 0% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 149 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. 2,476 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 28.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 79.2% heat with a gas boiler and 46.8% are rated D–G; 30 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
2,476homes with an energy certificate
28.8%solid walls, no insulation
79.2%heated by a gas boiler
30heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Huntingdonshire covers part of this area (about 0% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Land East Of Crosshall Road, St Neots)
What needs planning permission in Saint Neots Incl Eynesbury and Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford
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: 149 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 6). 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: 42% 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 = 2,476)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
928
37.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
713
28.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
231
9.3%
Cavity wall, filled
201
8.1%
Timber frame
124
5.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
99
4.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
69
2.8%
Solid wall, insulated
30
1.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
30
1.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
29
1.2%
Other or not known
13
0.5%
Solid wall, partly insulated
8
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.0%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,960
79.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
425
17.2%
Communal heating
51
2.1%
Heat pump
30
1.2%
Oil
9
0.4%
LPG
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
191
7.7%
Under 200 mm
514
20.8%
200 mm or more
669
27.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
380
15.3%
Flat or other home above
531
21.4%
Other
191
7.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
2,250
90.9%
Single glazed
174
7.0%
Secondary glazing
51
2.1%
Triple glazed
1
0.0%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 2 (0.1%) · B 243 (9.8%) · C 1,072 (43.3%) · D 814 (32.9%) · E 290 (11.7%) · F 43 (1.7%) · G 12 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 58% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 19 October 2006.
Compared with Huntingdonshire and England
Share of homes
Saint Neots Incl Eynesbury and Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford
All 60 areas in Huntingdonshire
England
Solid walls, no insulation
28.8%
33.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
79.2%
66.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
46.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 29 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 Huntingdonshire if in doubt.
Boundary: Huntingdonshire District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015658, reference CONARA/00056, 445.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.