Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Regents Park conservation area
In the Regents Park 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 75 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. 1,137 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 63.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 75.5% heat with a gas boiler and 46.0% 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
1,137homes with an energy certificate
63.8%solid walls, no insulation
75.5%heated by a gas boiler
3heat 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. (115, 117, 119, 121A, 127-129 Parkway and 1 Park Willage East; Basements)
What needs planning permission in Regents Park
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: 75 in the area (grade I: 13, II*: 10). 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: 86% 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 = 1,137)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
725
63.8%
Cavity wall, filled
87
7.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
84
7.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
65
5.7%
Solid wall, internal insulation
50
4.4%
Solid wall, external insulation
31
2.7%
Timber frame
23
2.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
20
1.8%
Other or not known
15
1.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
14
1.2%
Solid wall, insulated
12
1.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
8
0.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
858
75.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
142
12.5%
Communal heating
133
11.7%
Heat pump
3
0.3%
LPG
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
207
18.2%
Under 200 mm
69
6.1%
200 mm or more
23
2.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
97
8.5%
Flat or other home above
735
64.6%
Other
6
0.5%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
864
76.0%
Single glazed
149
13.1%
Secondary glazing
114
10.0%
Triple glazed
10
0.9%
CDE
Energy rating: B 31 (2.7%) · C 583 (51.3%) · D 357 (31.4%) · E 144 (12.7%) · F 17 (1.5%) · G 5 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 14% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1930-1949. Designated: 1 November 1985.
Compared with Camden and England
Share of homes
Regents Park
All 40 areas in Camden
England
Solid walls, no insulation
63.8%
67.1%
48.7%
Gas boiler
75.5%
67.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
46.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 44% 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 Camden if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Camden via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44009647, reference CA33, 56.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.