Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Roundhay conservation area
In the Roundhay conservation area (Leeds), 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 Leeds covers part of this area (about 37% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 39 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. 2,165 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 26.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 78.4% heat with a gas boiler and 62.5% are rated D–G; 12 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
2,165homes with an energy certificate
26.8%solid walls, no insulation
78.4%heated by a gas boiler
12heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Leeds covers part of this area (about 37% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (A4D01)
What needs planning permission in Roundhay
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: 39 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: 52% 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 = 2,165)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
580
26.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
471
21.8%
Cavity wall, filled
401
18.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
342
15.8%
Timber frame
103
4.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
83
3.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
66
3.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
41
1.9%
Solid wall, insulated
32
1.5%
Other or not known
29
1.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
8
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
6
0.3%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,697
78.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
397
18.3%
Communal heating
48
2.2%
Heat pump
12
0.6%
LPG
8
0.4%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.1%
Oil
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
310
14.3%
Under 200 mm
329
15.2%
200 mm or more
439
20.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
334
15.4%
Flat or other home above
696
32.2%
Other
56
2.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,996
92.2%
Single glazed
135
6.2%
Secondary glazing
31
1.4%
Triple glazed
3
0.1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.0%) · B 117 (5.4%) · C 694 (32.1%) · D 848 (39.2%) · E 415 (19.2%) · F 80 (3.7%) · G 10 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 48% of the homes; solar panels on 1.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 4 March 1974.
Compared with Leeds and England
Share of homes
Roundhay
All 80 areas in Leeds
England
Solid walls, no insulation
26.8%
44.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
78.4%
68.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
62.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 47% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 25 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 Leeds if in doubt.
Boundary: Leeds City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014965, reference CA020, 529.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.