Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Bakewell conservation area
In the Bakewell conservation area (Peak District National Park Authority), 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 Peak District National Park Authority covers part of this area (about 4% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 162 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. 453 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 65.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 81.5% heat with a gas boiler and 74.0% 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
453homes with an energy certificate
65.1%solid walls, no insulation
81.5%heated by a gas boiler
7heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Peak District National Park Authority covers part of this area (about 4% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Land adjoining Rutland Works, Bakewell; Land lying to south side of Monyash Road, Bakewell)
What needs planning permission in Bakewell
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: 162 in the area (grade I: 6, 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: 35% 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 = 453)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
295
65.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
69
15.2%
Solid wall, insulated
27
6.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
17
3.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
13
2.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
11
2.4%
Cavity wall, filled
8
1.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
6
1.3%
Timber frame
5
1.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
369
81.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
63
13.9%
Communal heating
14
3.1%
Heat pump
7
1.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
80
17.7%
Under 200 mm
103
22.7%
200 mm or more
116
25.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
67
14.8%
Flat or other home above
78
17.2%
Other
9
2.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
330
72.8%
Single glazed
93
20.5%
Secondary glazing
26
5.7%
Triple glazed
4
0.9%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.2%) · B 3 (0.7%) · C 114 (25.2%) · D 180 (39.7%) · E 127 (28.0%) · F 23 (5.1%) · G 5 (1.1%). Houses and bungalows: 65% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 February 1980.
Compared with Peak District National Park Authority and England
Share of homes
Bakewell
All 111 areas in Peak District National Park Authority
England
Solid walls, no insulation
65.1%
72.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
81.5%
63.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
74.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 53% 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 Peak District National Park Authority if in doubt.
Boundary: Peak District National Park Authority via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016052, reference CA129, 74.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.