Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Churchill conservation area
In the Churchill conservation area (West Oxfordshire), 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 West Oxfordshire covers part of this area (about 1% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 30 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. 168 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 41.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 0.6% heat with a gas boiler and 84.5% are rated D–G; 19 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
168homes with an energy certificate
41.1%solid walls, no insulation
0.6%heated by a gas boiler
19heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by West Oxfordshire covers part of this area (about 1% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Mount Farm)
What needs planning permission in Churchill
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
No permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 30 in the area (grade I: 0, 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: 1% 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 = 168)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
69
41.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
28
16.7%
Cavity wall, filled
26
15.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
15
8.9%
Solid wall, insulated
11
6.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
6
3.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
3.0%
Timber frame
4
2.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.6%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Oil
107
63.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
24
14.3%
Heat pump
19
11.3%
LPG
13
7.7%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
4
2.4%
Gas boiler
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
27
16.1%
Under 200 mm
35
20.8%
200 mm or more
35
20.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
55
32.7%
Other
16
9.5%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
156
92.9%
Secondary glazing
6
3.6%
Single glazed
6
3.6%
CDEF
Energy rating: B 7 (4.2%) · C 19 (11.3%) · D 58 (34.5%) · E 51 (30.4%) · F 27 (16.1%) · G 6 (3.6%). Houses and bungalows: 99% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 10 July 1998.
Compared with West Oxfordshire and England
Share of homes
Churchill
All 50 areas in West Oxfordshire
England
Solid walls, no insulation
41.1%
39.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
0.6%
61.6%
66.4%
Rated D–G
84.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 53% 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 West Oxfordshire if in doubt.
Boundary: West Oxfordshire District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014527, reference CONARA/048, 32.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.