Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Droitwich Spa conservation area
In the Droitwich Spa conservation area (Wychavon), 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 46 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. 454 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 26.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 46.7% heat with a gas boiler and 35.7% 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
454homes with an energy certificate
26.9%solid walls, no insulation
46.7%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: Wychavon does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Droitwich Spa
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: 46 in the area (grade I: 2, II*: 2). 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: 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 = 454)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
201
44.3%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
122
26.9%
Cavity wall, unfilled
43
9.5%
Timber frame
26
5.7%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
19
4.2%
Solid wall, insulated
17
3.7%
Cavity wall, filled
12
2.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
1.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
0.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.4%
Other or not known
2
0.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
212
46.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
203
44.7%
Communal heating
33
7.3%
Heat pump
3
0.7%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.4%
LPG
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
22
4.8%
Under 200 mm
43
9.5%
200 mm or more
98
21.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
37
8.1%
Flat or other home above
239
52.6%
Other
15
3.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
392
86.3%
Single glazed
56
12.3%
Secondary glazing
6
1.3%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 2 (0.4%) · B 45 (9.9%) · C 245 (54.0%) · D 105 (23.1%) · E 47 (10.4%) · F 8 (1.8%) · G 2 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 15% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2003-2006.
Compared with Wychavon and England
Share of homes
Droitwich Spa
All 64 areas in Wychavon
England
Solid walls, no insulation
26.9%
42.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
46.7%
59.9%
66.4%
Rated D–G
35.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 53% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 20 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 Wychavon if in doubt.
Boundary: Wychavon District Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003091, reference 354, 54.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.