Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Union Street conservation area
In the Union Street 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 1 listed building; on a listed building solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development at all and need planning permission and listed building consent. 153 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 26.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 73.9% heat with a gas boiler and 43.1% 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
153homes with an energy certificate
26.1%solid walls, no insulation
73.9%heated by a gas boiler
0heat 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 Union Street
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: 1 in the area (grade I: 0, 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: 96% 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 = 153)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
40
26.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
31
20.3%
Other or not known
19
12.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
15
9.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
11
7.2%
Cavity wall, filled
10
6.5%
Timber frame
9
5.9%
Cavity wall, unfilled
8
5.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
6
3.9%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
1.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.7%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.7%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
113
73.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
39
25.5%
Communal heating
1
0.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
28
18.3%
Under 200 mm
9
5.9%
200 mm or more
14
9.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
14
9.2%
Flat or other home above
79
51.6%
Other
9
5.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
151
98.7%
Single glazed
2
1.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 12 (7.8%) · C 75 (49.0%) · D 51 (33.3%) · E 13 (8.5%) · F 1 (0.7%) · G 1 (0.7%). Houses and bungalows: 4% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1950-1966. Designated: 21 August 2002.
Compared with Plymouth and England
Share of homes
Union Street
All 16 areas in Plymouth
England
Solid walls, no insulation
26.1%
44.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
73.9%
69.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
43.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 48% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 44012313, reference CON08, 4.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.