Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Old Town South conservation area
In the Old Town South conservation area (Southampton), 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 Southampton covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 21 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. 283 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 2.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 22.6% heat with a gas boiler and 10.2% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
283homes with an energy certificate
2.1%solid walls, no insulation
22.6%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Southampton covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (HMO)
What needs planning permission in Old Town South
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: 21 in the area (grade I: 5, 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: 100% 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 = 283)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
142
50.2%
Other or not known
112
39.6%
Timber frame
10
3.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
6
2.1%
Solid wall, insulated
5
1.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
4
1.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.7%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
216
76.3%
Gas boiler
64
22.6%
Communal heating
2
0.7%
Heat pump
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
1
0.4%
Under 200 mm
1
0.4%
200 mm or more
6
2.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
46
16.3%
Flat or other home above
228
80.6%
Other
1
0.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
281
99.3%
Secondary glazing
1
0.4%
Single glazed
1
0.4%
BCD
Energy rating: B 79 (27.9%) · C 175 (61.8%) · D 27 (9.5%) · E 2 (0.7%). Houses and bungalows: 0% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2003-2006. Designated: 19 October 1972.
Compared with Southampton and England
Share of homes
Old Town South
All 21 areas in Southampton
England
Solid walls, no insulation
2.1%
16.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
22.6%
42.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
10.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 59% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 12 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 Southampton if in doubt.
Boundary: Southampton City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015940, reference 144, 4.5 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.