Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Ailsworth conservation area
In the Ailsworth conservation area (Peterborough), 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 Peterborough covers part of this area (about 2% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 22 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. 85 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 36% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 78% heat with a gas boiler and 75% are rated D–G; 0 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
85homes with an energy certificate
36%solid walls, no insulation
78%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Peterborough covers part of this area (about 2% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, so there these need planning permission too. (1 Barn Cottages, Main Street, Ailsworth; 1 Helpston Road, Ailsworth; 1 Kings Acre Main Street, Ailsworth; 1 Main Street, Ailsworth; 11 Main Street, Ailsworth; 15 Maffit Road, Ailsworth)
What needs planning permission in Ailsworth
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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: 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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: prior approval of appearance from the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 22 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: 2% 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 = 85)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
31
36%
Cavity wall, filled
23
27%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
16
19%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
4
5%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
1%
Solid wall, insulated
1
1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
66
78%
Oil
10
12%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
7
8%
LPG
2
2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
3
4%
Under 200 mm
24
28%
200 mm or more
38
45%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
14
16%
Flat or other home above
1
1%
Other
5
6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
80
94%
Single glazed
4
5%
Secondary glazing
1
1%
CDE
Energy rating: B 1 (1%) · C 20 (24%) · D 44 (52%) · E 19 (22%) · F 1 (1%). Houses and bungalows: 98% of the homes; solar panels on 2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 16 August 1969.
Compared with Peterborough and England
Share of homes
Ailsworth
All 29 areas in Peterborough
England
Solid walls, no insulation
36%
40.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
78%
59.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
75%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 44% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 11 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 Peterborough if in doubt.
Boundary: Peterborough City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44004600, reference CA01, 14.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.