Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Robertsbridge & Northbridge Street conservation area
In the Robertsbridge & Northbridge Street conservation area (Rother), 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 Rother covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 63 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. 130 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 50.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 68.5% heat with a gas boiler and 84.6% 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
130homes with an energy certificate
50.0%solid walls, no insulation
68.5%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Rother covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Town and Country Planning (County of East Sussex) Direction, 1959)
What needs planning permission in Robertsbridge & Northbridge 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: 63 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 3). 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: 10% 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 = 130)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
65
50.0%
Timber frame
30
23.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
16
12.3%
Cavity wall, filled
5
3.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
3.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
1.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
1.5%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
1
0.8%
Other or not known
1
0.8%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.8%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.8%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
89
68.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
33
25.4%
Oil
4
3.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
4
3.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
31
23.8%
Under 200 mm
41
31.5%
200 mm or more
25
19.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
27
20.8%
Flat or other home above
5
3.8%
Other
1
0.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
77
59.2%
Single glazed
37
28.5%
Secondary glazing
16
12.3%
CDEF
Energy rating: C 20 (15.4%) · D 57 (43.8%) · E 26 (20.0%) · F 18 (13.8%) · G 9 (6.9%). Houses and bungalows: 90% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1986.
Compared with Rother and England
Share of homes
Robertsbridge & Northbridge Street
All 10 areas in Rother
England
Solid walls, no insulation
50.0%
49.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
68.5%
72.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
84.6%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 35% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 September 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 Rother if in doubt.
Boundary: Rother District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44010301, reference CA06, 10.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.