Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Upnor conservation area
In the Upnor conservation area (Medway), 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 Medway covers part of this area (about 4% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 15 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. 82 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 30% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 45% heat with a gas boiler and 55% 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
82homes with an energy certificate
30%solid walls, no insulation
45%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Medway covers part of this area (about 4% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Upper Upnor(1); Upper Upnor(10); Upper Upnor(11); Upper Upnor(2); Upper Upnor(3); Upper Upnor(4))
What needs planning permission in Upnor
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: 15 in the area (grade I: 2, 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: 29% 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 = 82)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
36
44%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
25
30%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
9
11%
Timber frame
6
7%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
2
2%
Cavity wall, filled
1
1%
Other or not known
1
1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
37
45%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
30
37%
Oil
10
12%
LPG
2
2%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
2%
Other
1
1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
9
11%
Under 200 mm
18
22%
200 mm or more
10
12%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
8
10%
Flat or other home above
8
10%
Other
29
35%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
69
84%
Single glazed
12
15%
Other
1
1%
BDEF
Energy rating: B 36 (44%) · C 1 (1%) · D 11 (13%) · E 17 (21%) · F 11 (13%) · G 6 (7%). Houses and bungalows: 71% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2017. Designated: 4 September 1970.
Compared with Medway and England
Share of homes
Upnor
All 24 areas in Medway
England
Solid walls, no insulation
30%
35.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
45%
69.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
55%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 28% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 14 May 2025). “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 Medway if in doubt.
Boundary: Medway Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44009815, reference 1, 17.1 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.