Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Old Sunderland conservation area
In the Old Sunderland conservation area (Sunderland), 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. The area has 10 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. 88 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 38% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 57% heat with a gas boiler and 5% 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
88homes with an energy certificate
38%solid walls, no insulation
57%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Sunderland does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Old Sunderland
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: 10 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 0). 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: 98% 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 = 88)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
41
47%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
33
38%
Cavity wall, filled
14
16%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
50
57%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
38
43%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
1
1%
Under 200 mm
1
1%
200 mm or more
23
26%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
18
20%
Flat or other home above
45
51%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
56
64%
Secondary glazing
31
35%
Single glazed
1
1%
BC
Energy rating: B 38 (43%) · C 46 (52%) · D 3 (3%) · E 1 (1%). Houses and bungalows: 2% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2012 onwards. Designated: 1 January 1969.
Compared with Sunderland and England
Share of homes
Old Sunderland
All 14 areas in Sunderland
England
Solid walls, no insulation
38%
26.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
57%
59.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 76% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 23 April 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 Sunderland if in doubt.
Boundary: Sunderland City Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003605, reference 1848, 9.8 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.