Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Western Escarpment conservation area
In the Western Escarpment conservation area (New Forest), 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 covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 88 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. 728 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 18.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 8.4% heat with a gas boiler and 86.3% are rated D–G; 63 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
728homes with an energy certificate
18.1%solid walls, no insulation
8.4%heated by a gas boiler
63heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by New Forest covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION 97/2; ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP 12/002; ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP 12/002#2; ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST CAMPSITE; ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION NP NEW FOREST RECREATIONAL CAMPSITE; Land at Cottage Plantation)
What needs planning permission in Western Escarpment
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: 88 in the area (grade I: 2, 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: 4% 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 = 728)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, filled
236
32.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
171
23.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
132
18.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
97
13.3%
Timber frame
32
4.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
23
3.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
11
1.5%
Other or not known
10
1.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
6
0.8%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
4
0.5%
Solid wall, insulated
4
0.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Oil
393
54.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
105
14.4%
LPG
78
10.7%
Heat pump
63
8.7%
Gas boiler
61
8.4%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
22
3.0%
Communal heating
5
0.7%
Other
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
51
7.0%
Under 200 mm
215
29.5%
200 mm or more
236
32.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
155
21.3%
Flat or other home above
15
2.1%
Other
56
7.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
673
92.4%
Single glazed
37
5.1%
Secondary glazing
15
2.1%
Other
2
0.3%
Triple glazed
1
0.1%
CDEF
Energy rating: A 6 (0.8%) · B 16 (2.2%) · C 78 (10.7%) · D 249 (34.2%) · E 251 (34.5%) · F 105 (14.4%) · G 23 (3.2%). Houses and bungalows: 95% of the homes; solar panels on 2.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 26 March 2008.
Compared with New Forest and England
Share of homes
Western Escarpment
All 22 areas in New Forest
England
Solid walls, no insulation
18.1%
21.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
8.4%
53.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
86.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 46% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 29 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 if in doubt.
Boundary: New Forest District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44005392, reference CONA37, 1,721.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.