Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Greenhithe conservation area
In the Greenhithe conservation area (Dartford), 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 Dartford covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 9 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. 85 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 27% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 98% heat with a gas boiler and 40% are rated D–G; 2 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
85homes with an energy certificate
27%solid walls, no insulation
98%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Dartford covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, painting the outside, so there these need planning permission too. (Article 4 Direction File Reference: PT191(3); HMO Article 4(1) Direction North Order 2025)
What needs planning permission in Greenhithe
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 9 in the area. 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: 22% 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 = 85)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
47
55%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
23
27%
Timber frame
4
5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
3
4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
2
2%
Solid wall, insulated
2
2%
Cavity wall, filled
1
1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
1
1%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
83
98%
Heat pump
2
2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
5
6%
Under 200 mm
32
38%
200 mm or more
19
22%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
14
16%
Flat or other home above
14
16%
Other
1
1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
74
87%
Single glazed
9
11%
Secondary glazing
2
2%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (1%) · B 1 (1%) · C 49 (58%) · D 26 (31%) · E 8 (9%). Houses and bungalows: 78% of the homes; solar panels on 1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1996-2002. Designated: 16 October 1975.
Compared with Dartford and England
Share of homes
Greenhithe
All 6 areas in Dartford
England
Solid walls, no insulation
27%
34.6%
48.7%
Gas boiler
98%
66.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
40%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 49% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 16 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 Dartford if in doubt.
Boundary: Dartford Borough Council via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014575, reference GR/CONARA, 5.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.