Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Clifton conservation area
In the Clifton 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 54 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. 494 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 43.7% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 72.3% heat with a gas boiler and 61.5% 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
494homes with an energy certificate
43.7%solid walls, no insulation
72.3%heated by a gas boiler
0heat 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 Clifton
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: 54 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: 51% 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 = 494)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
216
43.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
66
13.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
54
10.9%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
47
9.5%
Cavity wall, filled
41
8.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
34
6.9%
Timber frame
15
3.0%
Solid wall, insulated
10
2.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
1.6%
Other or not known
3
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
357
72.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
114
23.1%
Communal heating
23
4.7%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
67
13.6%
Under 200 mm
66
13.4%
200 mm or more
85
17.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
101
20.4%
Flat or other home above
136
27.5%
Other
39
7.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
410
83.0%
Single glazed
63
12.8%
Secondary glazing
20
4.0%
Triple glazed
1
0.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 3 (0.6%) · B 51 (10.3%) · C 136 (27.5%) · D 176 (35.6%) · E 99 (20.0%) · F 26 (5.3%) · G 3 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 49% of the homes; solar panels on 0.4% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1968.
Compared with York and England
Share of homes
Clifton
All 35 areas in York
England
Solid walls, no insulation
43.7%
37.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
72.3%
61.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
61.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 52% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 44014448, reference DYO1701, 43.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.