Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Dalston conservation area
In the Dalston conservation area (Hackney), 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 Hackney covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 2 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. 1,021 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 42.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 57.0% heat with a gas boiler and 29.3% 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
1,021homes with an energy certificate
42.3%solid walls, no insulation
57.0%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Hackney covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (A4D Non-residential to residential; Dalston; Dalston Major Town Centre; London borough of Hackney; Priority Industrial Area - Shacklewell)
What needs planning permission in Dalston
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
No permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 2 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: 97% 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 = 1,021)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
432
42.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
219
21.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
136
13.3%
Solid wall, insulated
102
10.0%
Other or not known
69
6.8%
Timber frame
35
3.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
18
1.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
0.5%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
582
57.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
250
24.5%
Communal heating
187
18.3%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
94
9.2%
Under 200 mm
33
3.2%
200 mm or more
12
1.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
157
15.4%
Flat or other home above
630
61.7%
Other
95
9.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
937
91.8%
Single glazed
72
7.1%
Secondary glazing
9
0.9%
Triple glazed
3
0.3%
BCD
Energy rating: A 2 (0.2%) · B 266 (26.1%) · C 454 (44.5%) · D 252 (24.7%) · E 38 (3.7%) · F 7 (0.7%) · G 2 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 3% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 2016.
Compared with Hackney and England
Share of homes
Dalston
All 37 areas in Hackney
England
Solid walls, no insulation
42.3%
50.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
57.0%
70.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
29.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 55% 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 Hackney if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hackney via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016021, reference CA23, 10.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.