Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in South Hale conservation area
In the South Hale conservation area (Trafford), 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 18 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. 714 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 25.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 91.0% heat with a gas boiler and 71.3% are rated D–G; 16 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
714homes with an energy certificate
25.5%solid walls, no insulation
91.0%heated by a gas boiler
16heat pumps
Article 4: Trafford does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in South Hale
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: 18 in the area (grade I: 1, 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: 17% 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 = 714)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
242
33.9%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
182
25.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
120
16.8%
Cavity wall, filled
89
12.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
43
6.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
11
1.5%
Timber frame
8
1.1%
Other or not known
6
0.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
0.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
4
0.6%
Solid wall, insulated
3
0.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
650
91.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
45
6.3%
Heat pump
16
2.2%
Oil
3
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
186
26.1%
Under 200 mm
148
20.7%
200 mm or more
154
21.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
102
14.3%
Flat or other home above
77
10.8%
Other
47
6.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
641
89.8%
Single glazed
51
7.1%
Secondary glazing
19
2.7%
Triple glazed
3
0.4%
CDEF
Energy rating: A 1 (0.1%) · B 53 (7.4%) · C 151 (21.1%) · D 254 (35.6%) · E 191 (26.8%) · F 63 (8.8%) · G 1 (0.1%). Houses and bungalows: 83% of the homes; solar panels on 0.7% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 25 February 1986.
Compared with Trafford and England
Share of homes
South Hale
All 22 areas in Trafford
England
Solid walls, no insulation
25.5%
31.1%
48.7%
Gas boiler
91.0%
78.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
71.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 43% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 26 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 Trafford if in doubt.
Boundary: Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44010414, reference 12, 131.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.