Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in St Helen's conservation area
In the St Helen's conservation area (Ipswich), 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 Ipswich 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. 221 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 62.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 78.3% heat with a gas boiler and 63.8% 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
221homes with an energy certificate
62.9%solid walls, no insulation
78.3%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Ipswich covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Article 4 Direction for Small HMOs)
What needs planning permission in St Helen's
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. 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: 43% 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 = 221)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
139
62.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
21
9.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
19
8.6%
Timber frame
13
5.9%
Other or not known
9
4.1%
Solid wall, insulated
9
4.1%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
3.6%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
0.9%
Cavity wall, filled
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
173
78.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
41
18.6%
Communal heating
6
2.7%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
31
14.0%
Under 200 mm
46
20.8%
200 mm or more
50
22.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
28
12.7%
Flat or other home above
55
24.9%
Other
11
5.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
186
84.2%
Single glazed
23
10.4%
Secondary glazing
10
4.5%
Other
2
0.9%
CDE
Energy rating: B 12 (5.4%) · C 68 (30.8%) · D 81 (36.7%) · E 54 (24.4%) · F 5 (2.3%) · G 1 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 57% of the homes; solar panels on 0.5% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 27 November 2012.
Compared with Ipswich and England
Share of homes
St Helen's
All 15 areas in Ipswich
England
Solid walls, no insulation
62.9%
39.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
78.3%
42.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
63.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 53% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 13 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 Ipswich if in doubt.
Boundary: Ipswich Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015763, reference CA06, 8.0 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.