Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Devizes Victoria Road Quarter conservation area
In the Devizes Victoria Road Quarter conservation area (Wiltshire), 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 Wiltshire covers part of this area (about 15% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. 51 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 12% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 80% heat with a gas boiler and 61% 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
51homes with an energy certificate
12%solid walls, no insulation
80%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Wiltshire covers part of this area (about 15% of it) and removes permitted development rights for solar panels on the house, replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, alterations to the roof (e.g. rooflights), so there these need planning permission too. (Devizes 2)
What needs planning permission in Devizes Victoria Road Quarter
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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: 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)
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: prior approval of appearance from the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
Inside the Article 4 part of the area: planning permission needed; elsewhere: no permission needed (permitted development)
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: 10% 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 = 51)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, filled
24
47%
Cavity wall, unfilled
11
22%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
7
14%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
6
12%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
3
6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
41
80%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
10
20%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
4
8%
Under 200 mm
14
27%
200 mm or more
24
47%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
2
4%
Other
7
14%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
46
90%
Single glazed
4
8%
Secondary glazing
1
2%
CDE
Energy rating: C 20 (39%) · D 20 (39%) · E 9 (18%) · F 1 (2%) · G 1 (2%). Houses and bungalows: 90% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 20 September 2007.
Compared with Wiltshire and England
Share of homes
Devizes Victoria Road Quarter
All 244 areas in Wiltshire
England
Solid walls, no insulation
12%
42.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
80%
45.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 61% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 13 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 Wiltshire if in doubt.
Boundary: Wiltshire Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015289, reference CA/E/70, 2.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.