Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Bramhall Lane South conservation area
In the Bramhall Lane South conservation area (Stockport), 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 Stockport covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 5 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. 169 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 10.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 98.2% heat with a gas boiler and 78.1% are rated D–G; 2 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
169homes with an energy certificate
10.1%solid walls, no insulation
98.2%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Stockport covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Bramhall Lane South)
What needs planning permission in Bramhall Lane 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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 5 in the area. 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: 3% 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 = 169)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
80
47.3%
Cavity wall, filled
39
23.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
23
13.6%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
17
10.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
1.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
3
1.8%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.6%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
0.6%
Timber frame
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
166
98.2%
Heat pump
2
1.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
36
21.3%
Under 200 mm
59
34.9%
200 mm or more
44
26.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
24
14.2%
Flat or other home above
2
1.2%
Other
4
2.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
151
89.3%
Single glazed
11
6.5%
Secondary glazing
7
4.1%
CDEF
Energy rating: A 3 (1.8%) · B 1 (0.6%) · C 33 (19.5%) · D 73 (43.2%) · E 44 (26.0%) · F 15 (8.9%). Houses and bungalows: 97% of the homes; solar panels on 1.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 2005.
Compared with Stockport and England
Share of homes
Bramhall Lane South
All 37 areas in Stockport
England
Solid walls, no insulation
10.1%
30.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
98.2%
73.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
78.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 37% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 14 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 Stockport if in doubt.
Boundary: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014584, reference 29, 26.2 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.