Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Barnack conservation area
In the Barnack 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 1% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 60 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. 147 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 45.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 68.0% heat with a gas boiler and 80.3% are rated D–G; 8 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
147homes with an energy certificate
45.6%solid walls, no insulation
68.0%heated by a gas boiler
8heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Peterborough covers part of this area (about 1% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (1 The Maltings The Square, Barnack; 18 Main Street, Barnack; 2 Linden Close, Barnack; 2 Station Road, Barnack; Aberfeldy Main Street, Barnack; Aberfoyle Main Street, Barnack)
What needs planning permission in Barnack
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
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: no permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 60 in the area (grade I: 2, II*: 1). 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: 0% 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 = 147)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
67
45.6%
Cavity wall, filled
44
29.9%
Cavity wall, unfilled
15
10.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
8
5.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
6
4.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
2.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
1.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.7%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.7%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
100
68.0%
Oil
30
20.4%
Heat pump
8
5.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
7
4.8%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
1.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
15
10.2%
Under 200 mm
52
35.4%
200 mm or more
59
40.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
13
8.8%
Other
8
5.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
118
80.3%
Single glazed
23
15.6%
Secondary glazing
6
4.1%
CDE
Energy rating: B 5 (3.4%) · C 24 (16.3%) · D 54 (36.7%) · E 49 (33.3%) · F 9 (6.1%) · G 6 (4.1%). Houses and bungalows: 100% of the homes; solar panels on 0.7% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 10 June 1975.
Compared with Peterborough and England
Share of homes
Barnack
All 29 areas in Peterborough
England
Solid walls, no insulation
45.6%
40.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
68.0%
59.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
80.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 44% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 24 August 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 44001130, reference CA03, 50.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.