Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Glaven Valley conservation area
In the Glaven Valley conservation area (North Norfolk), 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 North Norfolk covers part of this area (about 0% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 359 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. 1,402 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 49.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 20.3% heat with a gas boiler and 77.5% are rated D–G; 152 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
1,402homes with an energy certificate
49.6%solid walls, no insulation
20.3%heated by a gas boiler
152heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by North Norfolk covers part of this area (about 0% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Article 4 Direction - Land At Blakeney)
What needs planning permission in Glaven Valley
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: 359 in the area (grade I: 7, II*: 22). 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: 7% 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 = 1,402)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
696
49.6%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
176
12.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
165
11.8%
Cavity wall, filled
134
9.6%
Solid wall, insulated
73
5.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
63
4.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
33
2.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
28
2.0%
Timber frame
13
0.9%
Solid wall, partly insulated
10
0.7%
Other or not known
7
0.5%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Oil
533
38.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
342
24.4%
Gas boiler
284
20.3%
Heat pump
152
10.8%
LPG
54
3.9%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
28
2.0%
Communal heating
9
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
133
9.5%
Under 200 mm
322
23.0%
200 mm or more
492
35.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
245
17.5%
Flat or other home above
30
2.1%
Other
179
12.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,140
81.3%
Single glazed
164
11.7%
Secondary glazing
93
6.6%
Triple glazed
5
0.4%
CDEF
Energy rating: A 36 (2.6%) · B 88 (6.3%) · C 192 (13.7%) · D 365 (26.0%) · E 442 (31.5%) · F 189 (13.5%) · G 90 (6.4%). Houses and bungalows: 93% of the homes; solar panels on 0.9% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 28 October 1980.
Compared with North Norfolk and England
Share of homes
Glaven Valley
All 91 areas in North Norfolk
England
Solid walls, no insulation
49.6%
50.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
20.3%
40.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
77.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% 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 North Norfolk if in doubt.
Boundary: North Norfolk District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015102, reference CONA/00/1, 5,439.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.