Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Atherstone conservation area
In the Atherstone conservation area (North Warwickshire), 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 Warwickshire covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 59 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. 1,090 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 34.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 69.3% heat with a gas boiler and 57.2% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
1,090homes with an energy certificate
34.2%solid walls, no insulation
69.3%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by North Warwickshire covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Borough wide)
What needs planning permission in Atherstone
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: 59 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: 57% 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 = 1,090)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
373
34.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
238
21.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
121
11.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
113
10.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
95
8.7%
Cavity wall, filled
64
5.9%
Other or not known
37
3.4%
Solid wall, insulated
20
1.8%
Timber frame
17
1.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
6
0.6%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
755
69.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
332
30.5%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.2%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
161
14.8%
Under 200 mm
187
17.2%
200 mm or more
240
22.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
110
10.1%
Flat or other home above
316
29.0%
Other
76
7.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
980
89.9%
Secondary glazing
53
4.9%
Single glazed
53
4.9%
Triple glazed
4
0.4%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 98 (9.0%) · C 369 (33.9%) · D 341 (31.3%) · E 262 (24.0%) · F 17 (1.6%) · G 3 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 43% of the homes; solar panels on 0.4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 18 November 1995.
Compared with North Warwickshire and England
Share of homes
Atherstone
All 11 areas in North Warwickshire
England
Solid walls, no insulation
34.2%
33.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
69.3%
74.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
57.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 61% 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 Warwickshire if in doubt.
Boundary: North Warwickshire Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015692, reference CA01, 33.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.