Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Central conservation area
In the Central conservation area (Newcastle), 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 covers part of this area (about 0% of it) and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 302 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. 2,188 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 28.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 12.9% heat with a gas boiler and 33.3% are rated D–G; 16 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
2,188homes with an energy certificate
28.2%solid walls, no insulation
12.9%heated by a gas boiler
16heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Newcastle covers part of this area (about 0% of it) and removes permitted development rights for painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Brandy Vaults)
What needs planning permission in Central
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: 302 in the area (grade I: 42, II*: 41). 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: 99% 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 = 2,188)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
617
28.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
400
18.3%
Other or not known
394
18.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
374
17.1%
Solid wall, insulated
147
6.7%
Solid wall, internal insulation
104
4.8%
Solid wall, partly insulated
53
2.4%
Timber frame
51
2.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
20
0.9%
Cavity wall, unfilled
16
0.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
12
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1,803
82.4%
Gas boiler
282
12.9%
Communal heating
87
4.0%
Heat pump
16
0.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
60
2.7%
Under 200 mm
72
3.3%
200 mm or more
107
4.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
183
8.4%
Flat or other home above
1,715
78.4%
Other
51
2.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,503
68.7%
Secondary glazing
455
20.8%
Single glazed
202
9.2%
Triple glazed
28
1.3%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 533 (24.4%) · C 927 (42.4%) · D 450 (20.6%) · E 253 (11.6%) · F 18 (0.8%) · G 7 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 1% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 November 2009.
Compared with Newcastle and England
Share of homes
Central
All 12 areas in Newcastle
England
Solid walls, no insulation
28.2%
35.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
12.9%
54.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
33.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 63% 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 if in doubt.
Boundary: Newcastle City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44000548, reference 12, 76.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.