Conservation area, listed buildings
Ashwell Conservation Area
A conservation area is an area that is designated for its special architectural or historic interest, and where it is desirable to preserve or enhance its character and appearance. Much of Ashwell falls within the conservation area shown here. Useful information can be found in the Conservation Areas in Villages section, under Planning of the NHDC website, regarding planning constraints within the Conservation Area. The Conservation Area Character Statement is an interesting general read and has an improved map of the Conservation Area including information on listed buildings and other features of significance. Ashwell Conservation area Character Appraisal and management plan has more detail on the practical implications of living within the Conservation Area. If you want to know if your house is listed you can also search the list held by Historic England.
National planning policy in relation to the conservation area and enhancement of heritage assets is outlined in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework or NPPF. The most recent NPPF update of August 2026 strongly supports renewable energy and gives ‘substantial weight’ to net-zero options. It also exempts applicants from proving overall energy need.
Standard household renewables (like domestic solar panels or air source heat pumps) often fall under permitted development rights, meaning they bypass regular planning applications entirely unless the property is listed or in a conservation area.
Helpful information regarding heat pump installation specifically in Conservation Areas and planning includes a survey of applications for heat pumps and rates of approval in a number of regions nationally. Approval rates averaged 88%, and failures were consistently related to the pump being visible from the highway, lack of screening, or potential for excessive noise disrupting neighbours. The same source notes that installation may fall under permitted development and planning permission may, therefore, not be required. For example, if an air source heat pump is placed on a rear wall of a property and meets noise and size limits this may fall under permitted development.
Speaking with the local planning department should always be a first step if thinking about installing an ASHP or solar panels within the conservation area to understand what level of planning permission is needed.
Listed buildings energy efficiency and retrofit
Ashwell has a number of listed buildings within the conservation area which can be considered a challenge for reducing their carbon footprint. However, Historic England has many freely available online resources to support owners of listed buildings in how to approach improving their energy efficiency, retrofitting insulation and installing heat pumps and solar panels Good starting points are Energy Efficiency and Retrofit in Historic Buildings and the associated booklet Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency and the whole building approach.
The Technical Advice Section provides information on looking after historic buildings and sites, including climate change adaptation, retrofit and energy efficiency advice; plus briefing on recording, and information and project management.
More specific topics such as installation of heat pumps, solar panels and Insulation in historic buildings are also covered.
Speaking with the local planning department should always be a first step if thinking about modifying a listed building.