Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Newark conservation area
In the Newark conservation area (Newark and Sherwood), 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 356 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. 2,414 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 46.4% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 71.0% heat with a gas boiler and 61.1% are rated D–G; 10 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
2,414homes with an energy certificate
46.4%solid walls, no insulation
71.0%heated by a gas boiler
10heat pumps
Article 4: Newark and Sherwood does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Newark
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: 356 in the area (grade I: 4, II*: 11). 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: 49% 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 = 2,414)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
1,119
46.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
451
18.7%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
319
13.2%
Cavity wall, filled
134
5.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
127
5.3%
Solid wall, insulated
81
3.4%
Other or not known
49
2.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
38
1.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
34
1.4%
Timber frame
34
1.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
17
0.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
8
0.3%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,713
71.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
623
25.8%
Communal heating
64
2.7%
Heat pump
10
0.4%
LPG
2
0.1%
Oil
1
0.0%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
284
11.8%
Under 200 mm
473
19.6%
200 mm or more
612
25.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
253
10.5%
Flat or other home above
569
23.6%
Other
222
9.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,843
76.3%
Single glazed
412
17.1%
Secondary glazing
148
6.1%
Triple glazed
9
0.4%
Other
2
0.1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 7 (0.3%) · B 108 (4.5%) · C 824 (34.1%) · D 938 (38.9%) · E 459 (19.0%) · F 67 (2.8%) · G 11 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 51% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1968.
Compared with Newark and Sherwood and England
Share of homes
Newark
All 47 areas in Newark and Sherwood
England
Solid walls, no insulation
46.4%
41.2%
48.7%
Gas boiler
71.0%
66.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 59% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 24 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 Newark and Sherwood if in doubt.
Boundary: Newark and Sherwood District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44001465, reference 5670, 174.2 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.