Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Belsize conservation area
In the Belsize conservation area (Camden), 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 Camden covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 31 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. 4,116 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 77.4% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 70.8% heat with a gas boiler and 50.4% are rated D–G; 7 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
4,116homes with an energy certificate
77.4%solid walls, no insulation
70.8%heated by a gas boiler
7heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Camden covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (13-51 (odd) & 16-60 (even) Belsize Avenue; Basements; Belsize Conservation Area (various properties); Belsize Conservation Area Non-immediate Article 4; Commercial, Business, and Service (Use Class E) to residential (Use Class C3) (outside CAZ))
What needs planning permission in Belsize
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: 31 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: 93% 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 = 4,116)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
3,184
77.4%
Timber frame
220
5.3%
Cavity wall, unfilled
189
4.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
105
2.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
98
2.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
91
2.2%
Other or not known
52
1.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
50
1.2%
Cavity wall, filled
46
1.1%
Solid wall, partly insulated
27
0.7%
Solid wall, insulated
26
0.6%
Solid wall, external insulation
18
0.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
8
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
2,913
70.8%
Communal heating
852
20.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
341
8.3%
Heat pump
7
0.2%
LPG
2
0.0%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
569
13.8%
Under 200 mm
163
4.0%
200 mm or more
67
1.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
355
8.6%
Flat or other home above
2,883
70.1%
Other
78
1.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
2,382
57.9%
Single glazed
1,562
37.9%
Secondary glazing
166
4.0%
Triple glazed
6
0.1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 2 (0.0%) · B 86 (2.1%) · C 1,955 (47.5%) · D 1,655 (40.2%) · E 375 (9.1%) · F 35 (0.9%) · G 8 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 7% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 February 1988.
Compared with Camden and England
Share of homes
Belsize
All 40 areas in Camden
England
Solid walls, no insulation
77.4%
67.1%
48.7%
Gas boiler
70.8%
67.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
50.4%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 60% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 29 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 Camden if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Camden via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44009623, reference CA3, 61.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.