Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Gosforth conservation area
In the Gosforth 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 1% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 14 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. 1,383 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 28.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 85.2% heat with a gas boiler and 61.2% are rated D–G; 7 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
1,383homes with an energy certificate
28.2%solid walls, no insulation
85.2%heated by a gas boiler
7heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Newcastle covers part of this area (about 1% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Jesmond and Heaton)
What needs planning permission in Gosforth
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: 14 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: 36% 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 = 1,383)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
390
28.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
313
22.6%
Cavity wall, filled
284
20.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
255
18.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
61
4.4%
Timber frame
22
1.6%
Other or not known
20
1.4%
Solid wall, insulated
11
0.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
11
0.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
8
0.6%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
4
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,179
85.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
183
13.2%
Communal heating
11
0.8%
Heat pump
7
0.5%
Oil
3
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
258
18.7%
Under 200 mm
206
14.9%
200 mm or more
356
25.7%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
188
13.6%
Flat or other home above
344
24.9%
Other
31
2.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,288
93.1%
Single glazed
65
4.7%
Secondary glazing
26
1.9%
Triple glazed
4
0.3%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 5 (0.4%) · B 121 (8.7%) · C 411 (29.7%) · D 558 (40.3%) · E 242 (17.5%) · F 42 (3.0%) · G 4 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 64% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1991.
Compared with Newcastle and England
Share of homes
Gosforth
All 12 areas in Newcastle
England
Solid walls, no insulation
28.2%
35.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
85.2%
54.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 43% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 44000546, reference 10, 125.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.