Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Forest Central (North) conservation area
In the Forest Central (North) 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 29 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. 225 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 20.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 13.3% heat with a gas boiler and 84.9% are rated D–G; 25 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
225homes with an energy certificate
20.9%solid walls, no insulation
13.3%heated by a gas boiler
25heat 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; Land to the East of Cove Copse Farm; New Forest National Park Boundary)
What needs planning permission in Forest Central (North)
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: 29 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 2). 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: 3% 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 = 225)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
66
29.3%
Cavity wall, filled
64
28.4%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
47
20.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
15
6.7%
Timber frame
12
5.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
9
4.0%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
5
2.2%
Other or not known
3
1.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.9%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Oil
119
52.9%
Gas boiler
30
13.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
27
12.0%
Heat pump
25
11.1%
LPG
18
8.0%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
6
2.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
26
11.6%
Under 200 mm
71
31.6%
200 mm or more
80
35.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
33
14.7%
Flat or other home above
2
0.9%
Other
13
5.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
201
89.3%
Single glazed
19
8.4%
Secondary glazing
4
1.8%
Triple glazed
1
0.4%
CDEF
Energy rating: A 1 (0.4%) · B 10 (4.4%) · C 23 (10.2%) · D 69 (30.7%) · E 72 (32.0%) · F 41 (18.2%) · G 9 (4.0%). Houses and bungalows: 97% of the homes; solar panels on 1.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 24 January 2008.
Compared with New Forest National Park Authority and England
Share of homes
Forest Central (North)
All 26 areas in New Forest National Park Authority
England
Solid walls, no insulation
20.9%
18.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
13.3%
55.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
84.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 45% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 44005383, reference CONA15, 1,071.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.