Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in The Brampton conservation area
In the The Brampton conservation area (Newcastle-under-Lyme), 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. The area has 3 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. 138 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 27.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 59.4% heat with a gas boiler and 57.2% are rated D–G; 0 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
138homes with an energy certificate
27.5%solid walls, no insulation
59.4%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Newcastle-under-Lyme covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. (Brampton; Sidmouth Avenue, Gower Street, Granville Avenue, Northcote Place and King Street)
What needs planning permission in The Brampton
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 3 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: 59% 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 = 138)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
38
27.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
27
19.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
24
17.4%
Cavity wall, filled
21
15.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
13
9.4%
Solid wall, insulated
6
4.3%
Timber frame
4
2.9%
Other or not known
2
1.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.7%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.7%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
82
59.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
50
36.2%
Communal heating
5
3.6%
Oil
1
0.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
5
3.6%
Under 200 mm
17
12.3%
200 mm or more
44
31.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
11
8.0%
Flat or other home above
47
34.1%
Other
14
10.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
130
94.2%
Single glazed
6
4.3%
Other
2
1.4%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 17 (12.3%) · C 42 (30.4%) · D 56 (40.6%) · E 19 (13.8%) · F 4 (2.9%). Houses and bungalows: 41% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 July 1984.
Compared with Newcastle-under-Lyme and England
Share of homes
The Brampton
All 22 areas in Newcastle-under-Lyme
England
Solid walls, no insulation
27.5%
29.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
59.4%
59.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
57.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 57% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 31 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 Newcastle-under-Lyme if in doubt.
Boundary: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016213, reference CA18, 20.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.