Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Albert Dock conservation area
In the Albert Dock conservation area (Liverpool), 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 Liverpool covers this area and removes permitted development rights for alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. The area has 27 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. 577 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 14.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 0.0% heat with a gas boiler and 25.3% 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
577homes with an energy certificate
14.7%solid walls, no insulation
0.0%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Liverpool covers this area and removes permitted development rights for alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. (Block 3, Mann Island, Liverpool, L3; Land bounded by Mann Island, The Strand and Canning Dock, Liverpool 1; Museum of Liverpool Life, Mann Island, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3; The Liverpool (Anfield, Central, Greenbank, Kensington and Fairfield, Picton, Princess Park, Riverside, Tuebrook and Stoneycroft and Wavertree wards and parts of Kirkdale and Church wards) (Article 4(1)) Direction 2020; Units B20,B22,B24,B31,B31a Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3)
What needs planning permission in Albert Dock
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: 27 in the area (grade I: 5, 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: 100% 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 = 577)
Walls
Homes
Share
Other or not known
355
61.6%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
85
14.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
64
11.1%
Solid wall, insulated
53
9.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
9
1.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
5
0.9%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
2
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
575
99.7%
Communal heating
2
0.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
2
0.3%
Under 200 mm
12
2.1%
200 mm or more
6
1.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
65
11.3%
Flat or other home above
480
83.2%
Other
12
2.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
486
84.2%
Single glazed
56
9.7%
Secondary glazing
35
6.1%
BCD
Energy rating: B 140 (24.3%) · C 291 (50.4%) · D 107 (18.5%) · E 32 (5.5%) · F 6 (1.0%) · G 1 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 0% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2007-2011. Designated: 17 November 1976.
Compared with Liverpool and England
Share of homes
Albert Dock
All 37 areas in Liverpool
England
Solid walls, no insulation
14.7%
41.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
0.0%
53.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
25.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 73% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 2 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 Liverpool if in doubt.
Boundary: Liverpool City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014338, reference CA001, 28.2 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.