Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Craven Arms conservation area
In the Craven Arms conservation area (Shropshire), 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. 95 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 56% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 85% heat with a gas boiler and 61% 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
95homes with an energy certificate
56%solid walls, no insulation
85%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Shropshire does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Craven Arms
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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)
Prior approval of appearance from the council, unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 35% 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 = 95)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
53
56%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
15
16%
Cavity wall, unfilled
8
8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
7
7%
Solid wall, insulated
4
4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
3
3%
Other or not known
2
2%
Cavity wall, filled
1
1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
81
85%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
14
15%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
10
11%
Under 200 mm
28
29%
200 mm or more
31
33%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
6
6%
Flat or other home above
13
14%
Other
7
7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
82
86%
Single glazed
8
8%
Triple glazed
4
4%
Secondary glazing
1
1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 2 (2%) · B 6 (6%) · C 29 (31%) · D 39 (41%) · E 13 (14%) · F 4 (4%) · G 2 (2%). Houses and bungalows: 65% of the homes; solar panels on 4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 10 February 1994.
Compared with Shropshire and England
Share of homes
Craven Arms
All 121 areas in Shropshire
England
Solid walls, no insulation
56%
45.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
85%
60.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 56% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 21 July 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 Shropshire if in doubt.
Boundary: Shropshire Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003884, reference 1540, 3.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.