Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Acomb conservation area
In the Acomb conservation area (York), 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 York covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 21 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. 232 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 39.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 69.4% heat with a gas boiler and 54.3% are rated D–G; 6 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
232homes with an energy certificate
39.7%solid walls, no insulation
69.4%heated by a gas boiler
6heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by York covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (HMO)
What needs planning permission in Acomb
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: 21 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: 55% 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 = 232)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
92
39.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
42
18.1%
Cavity wall, filled
39
16.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
22
9.5%
Cavity wall, unfilled
10
4.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
3.4%
Timber frame
7
3.0%
Solid wall, insulated
4
1.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
1.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
1.3%
Other or not known
2
0.9%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
161
69.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
36
15.5%
Communal heating
28
12.1%
Heat pump
6
2.6%
LPG
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
17
7.3%
Under 200 mm
37
15.9%
200 mm or more
75
32.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
29
12.5%
Flat or other home above
55
23.7%
Other
19
8.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
207
89.2%
Single glazed
24
10.3%
Secondary glazing
1
0.4%
CDE
Energy rating: B 8 (3.4%) · C 98 (42.2%) · D 83 (35.8%) · E 41 (17.7%) · F 2 (0.9%). Houses and bungalows: 45% of the homes; solar panels on 0.4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1975.
Compared with York and England
Share of homes
Acomb
All 35 areas in York
England
Solid walls, no insulation
39.7%
37.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
69.4%
61.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
54.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 62% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 York if in doubt.
Boundary: City of York Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014444, reference 3091, 14.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.