Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Old Oak Lane conservation area
In the Old Oak Lane conservation area (Ealing), 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. 167 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 77.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 91.0% heat with a gas boiler and 65.3% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
167homes with an energy certificate
77.8%solid walls, no insulation
91.0%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: Ealing does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Old Oak Lane
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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 16% 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 = 167)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
130
77.8%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
12
7.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
11
6.6%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
6
3.6%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
1.8%
Timber frame
3
1.8%
Cavity wall, filled
2
1.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
152
91.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
13
7.8%
Communal heating
1
0.6%
Heat pump
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
48
28.7%
Under 200 mm
59
35.3%
200 mm or more
31
18.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
11
6.6%
Flat or other home above
12
7.2%
Other
6
3.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
147
88.0%
Single glazed
15
9.0%
Secondary glazing
5
3.0%
CDE
Energy rating: B 2 (1.2%) · C 56 (33.5%) · D 86 (51.5%) · E 21 (12.6%) · G 2 (1.2%). Houses and bungalows: 84% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1990.
Compared with Ealing and England
Share of homes
Old Oak Lane
All 31 areas in Ealing
England
Solid walls, no insulation
77.8%
49.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
91.0%
74.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
65.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 66% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 11 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 Ealing if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Ealing via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44002348, reference 5302, 3.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.