Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Linthorpe conservation area
In the Linthorpe conservation area (Middlesbrough), 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. The area has 1 listed building; on a listed building solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development at all and need planning permission and listed building consent. 926 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 49.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 80.8% heat with a gas boiler and 63.0% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
926homes with an energy certificate
49.7%solid walls, no insulation
80.8%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: Middlesbrough does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Linthorpe
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: 1 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: 32% 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 = 926)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
460
49.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
179
19.3%
Cavity wall, filled
86
9.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
84
9.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
80
8.6%
Timber frame
27
2.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
4
0.4%
Other or not known
3
0.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
748
80.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
174
18.8%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.2%
Communal heating
1
0.1%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
233
25.2%
Under 200 mm
140
15.1%
200 mm or more
204
22.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
104
11.2%
Flat or other home above
173
18.7%
Other
72
7.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
858
92.7%
Single glazed
61
6.6%
Secondary glazing
7
0.8%
CDE
Energy rating: B 23 (2.5%) · C 320 (34.6%) · D 299 (32.3%) · E 210 (22.7%) · F 69 (7.5%) · G 5 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 68% of the homes; solar panels on 1.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 22 July 1975.
Compared with Middlesbrough and England
Share of homes
Linthorpe
All 8 areas in Middlesbrough
England
Solid walls, no insulation
49.7%
36.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
80.8%
72.6%
66.4%
Rated D–G
63.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 41% 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 Middlesbrough if in doubt.
Boundary: Middlesbrough Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016604, reference CA3, 62.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.