Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Birnbeck conservation area
In the Birnbeck conservation area (North Somerset), 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 Somerset covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 29 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. 1,496 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 52.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 51.3% heat with a gas boiler and 61.9% are rated D–G; 29 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
1,496homes with an energy certificate
52.2%solid walls, no insulation
51.3%heated by a gas boiler
29heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by North Somerset covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Great Weston Conservation Area, Weston-super-Mare; Weston-super-Mare (Birnbeck) Conservation area (1))
What needs planning permission in Birnbeck
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: 29 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 2). 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: 92% 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 = 1,496)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
781
52.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
241
16.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
148
9.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
75
5.0%
Timber frame
50
3.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
49
3.3%
Cavity wall, unfilled
46
3.1%
Solid wall, insulated
41
2.7%
Cavity wall, filled
38
2.5%
Other or not known
22
1.5%
Solid wall, partly insulated
4
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
767
51.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
655
43.8%
Communal heating
43
2.9%
Heat pump
29
1.9%
LPG
1
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
129
8.6%
Under 200 mm
121
8.1%
200 mm or more
114
7.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
123
8.2%
Flat or other home above
938
62.7%
Other
71
4.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,278
85.4%
Single glazed
194
13.0%
Secondary glazing
17
1.1%
Triple glazed
5
0.3%
Other
2
0.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.1%) · B 133 (8.9%) · C 436 (29.1%) · D 591 (39.5%) · E 271 (18.1%) · F 49 (3.3%) · G 15 (1.0%). Houses and bungalows: 8% of the homes; solar panels on 0.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 22 May 1984.
Compared with North Somerset and England
Share of homes
Birnbeck
All 39 areas in North Somerset
England
Solid walls, no insulation
52.2%
56.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
51.3%
64.6%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 58% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 27 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 Somerset if in doubt.
Boundary: North Somerset Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44010145, reference CONSAREA-5, 45.5 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.