Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Kings Lynn conservation area
In the Kings Lynn conservation area (King's Lynn and West Norfolk), 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 281 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. 2,077 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 46.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 54.4% heat with a gas boiler and 58.9% are rated D–G; 28 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
2,077homes with an energy certificate
46.6%solid walls, no insulation
54.4%heated by a gas boiler
28heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by King's Lynn and West Norfolk covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Kings Lynn Conservation Area)
What needs planning permission in Kings Lynn
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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)
Prior approval of appearance from the council, unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 281 in the area (grade I: 13, II*: 35). 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: 60% 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 = 2,077)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
967
46.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
443
21.3%
Cavity wall, filled
203
9.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
176
8.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
79
3.8%
Timber frame
54
2.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
44
2.1%
Solid wall, insulated
42
2.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
39
1.9%
Solid wall, partly insulated
21
1.0%
Other or not known
5
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
4
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,129
54.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
846
40.7%
Communal heating
69
3.3%
Heat pump
28
1.3%
LPG
2
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.1%
Oil
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
186
9.0%
Under 200 mm
415
20.0%
200 mm or more
521
25.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
180
8.7%
Flat or other home above
633
30.5%
Other
142
6.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,758
84.6%
Single glazed
263
12.7%
Secondary glazing
56
2.7%
CDE
Energy rating: B 125 (6.0%) · C 728 (35.1%) · D 792 (38.1%) · E 373 (18.0%) · F 42 (2.0%) · G 17 (0.8%). Houses and bungalows: 40% of the homes; solar panels on 0.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 15 March 1979.
Compared with King's Lynn and West Norfolk and England
Share of homes
Kings Lynn
All 43 areas in King's Lynn and West Norfolk
England
Solid walls, no insulation
46.6%
48.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
54.4%
35.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
58.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 62% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk if in doubt.
Boundary: Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015960, reference CONS/28830, 75.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.