Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Stoke conservation area
In the Stoke conservation area (Plymouth), 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 Plymouth covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 58 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. 1,440 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 59.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 77.4% heat with a gas boiler and 60.2% are rated D–G; 4 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
1,440homes with an energy certificate
59.0%solid walls, no insulation
77.4%heated by a gas boiler
4heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Plymouth covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (HMOs Mutley, Greenbank, City Centre and surrounding areas)
What needs planning permission in Stoke
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: 58 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 4). 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: 60% 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 = 1,440)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
849
59.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
160
11.1%
Timber frame
103
7.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
84
5.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
53
3.7%
Cavity wall, filled
45
3.1%
Other or not known
41
2.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
35
2.4%
Solid wall, insulated
29
2.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
22
1.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
12
0.8%
Solid wall, partly insulated
5
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,115
77.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
270
18.8%
Communal heating
48
3.3%
Heat pump
4
0.3%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
3
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
201
14.0%
Under 200 mm
242
16.8%
200 mm or more
314
21.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
153
10.6%
Flat or other home above
499
34.7%
Other
31
2.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,292
89.7%
Single glazed
126
8.8%
Secondary glazing
19
1.3%
Other
3
0.2%
CDE
Energy rating: A 3 (0.2%) · B 75 (5.2%) · C 495 (34.4%) · D 572 (39.7%) · E 240 (16.7%) · F 35 (2.4%) · G 20 (1.4%). Houses and bungalows: 40% of the homes; solar panels on 0.7% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 23 September 1985.
Compared with Plymouth and England
Share of homes
Stoke
All 16 areas in Plymouth
England
Solid walls, no insulation
59.0%
44.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
77.4%
69.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
60.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 51% 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 Plymouth if in doubt.
Boundary: Plymouth City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44012305, reference CON04, 68.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.