Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Westgate On Sea East conservation area
In the Westgate On Sea East conservation area (Thanet), 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 Thanet covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. 184 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 57.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 81.0% heat with a gas boiler and 48.9% are rated D–G; 3 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
184homes with an energy certificate
57.1%solid walls, no insulation
81.0%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Thanet covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Birchington & Rural ED)
What needs planning permission in Westgate On Sea East
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: 85% 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 = 184)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
105
57.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
34
18.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
12
6.5%
Timber frame
9
4.9%
Solid wall, insulated
5
2.7%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
2.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
4
2.2%
Cavity wall, filled
3
1.6%
Other or not known
3
1.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
1.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
149
81.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
31
16.8%
Heat pump
3
1.6%
LPG
1
0.5%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
14
7.6%
Under 200 mm
17
9.2%
200 mm or more
13
7.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
18
9.8%
Flat or other home above
111
60.3%
Other
11
6.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
152
82.6%
Single glazed
25
13.6%
Secondary glazing
5
2.7%
Triple glazed
2
1.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 16 (8.7%) · C 78 (42.4%) · D 66 (35.9%) · E 22 (12.0%) · F 2 (1.1%). Houses and bungalows: 15% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900.
Compared with Thanet and England
Share of homes
Westgate On Sea East
All 27 areas in Thanet
England
Solid walls, no insulation
57.1%
59.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
81.0%
72.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
48.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 60% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 Thanet if in doubt.
Boundary: Thanet District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014865, reference 7, 2.7 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.