Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Forde Park conservation area
In the Forde Park conservation area (Teignbridge), 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. 159 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 55.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 74.2% heat with a gas boiler and 62.9% 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
159homes with an energy certificate
55.3%solid walls, no insulation
74.2%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: Teignbridge does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Forde Park
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: 54% 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 = 159)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
88
55.3%
Cavity wall, unfilled
18
11.3%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
15
9.4%
Cavity wall, filled
14
8.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
8
5.0%
Solid wall, insulated
5
3.1%
Timber frame
5
3.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
2.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
118
74.2%
Communal heating
25
15.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
14
8.8%
Oil
2
1.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
12
7.5%
Under 200 mm
34
21.4%
200 mm or more
42
26.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
20
12.6%
Flat or other home above
43
27.0%
Other
8
5.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
132
83.0%
Single glazed
25
15.7%
Secondary glazing
2
1.3%
CDE
Energy rating: B 2 (1.3%) · C 57 (35.8%) · D 64 (40.3%) · E 28 (17.6%) · F 7 (4.4%) · G 1 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 46% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 10 December 1974.
Compared with Teignbridge and England
Share of homes
Forde Park
All 35 areas in Teignbridge
England
Solid walls, no insulation
55.3%
56.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
74.2%
65.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
62.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 46% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 22 August 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 Teignbridge if in doubt.
Boundary: Teignbridge District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003305, reference 8976, 13.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.