Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Brockenhurst conservation area
In the Brockenhurst conservation area (New Forest National Park Authority), 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 New Forest National Park Authority covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 16 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. 277 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 13.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 93.9% heat with a gas boiler and 56.0% are rated D–G; 2 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
277homes with an energy certificate
13.7%solid walls, no insulation
93.9%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by New Forest National Park Authority covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST CAMPSITE; ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST RECREATIONAL CAMPSITE; New Forest National Park Boundary)
What needs planning permission in Brockenhurst
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: 16 in the area (grade I: 0, 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: 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 = 277)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
96
34.7%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
55
19.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
43
15.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
38
13.7%
Cavity wall, filled
24
8.7%
Timber frame
9
3.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
1.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
1.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.7%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
260
93.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
12
4.3%
Heat pump
2
0.7%
LPG
2
0.7%
Communal heating
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
40
14.4%
Under 200 mm
54
19.5%
200 mm or more
69
24.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
36
13.0%
Flat or other home above
36
13.0%
Other
42
15.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
242
87.4%
Secondary glazing
18
6.5%
Single glazed
17
6.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 48 (17.3%) · C 74 (26.7%) · D 95 (34.3%) · E 54 (19.5%) · F 5 (1.8%) · G 1 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 68% of the homes; solar panels on 1.4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 28 May 2009.
Compared with New Forest National Park Authority and England
Share of homes
Brockenhurst
All 26 areas in New Forest National Park Authority
England
Solid walls, no insulation
13.7%
18.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
93.9%
55.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
56.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 44% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 15 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 New Forest National Park Authority if in doubt.
Boundary: New Forest National Park Authority via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44005379, reference CONA06, 51.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.