Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Graham Road and Mapledene conservation area
In the Graham Road and Mapledene 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 30 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. 2,627 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 71.9% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 89.5% heat with a gas boiler and 54.5% are rated D–G; 13 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
2,627homes with an energy certificate
71.9%solid walls, no insulation
89.5%heated by a gas boiler
13heat 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. (London borough of Hackney)
What needs planning permission in Graham Road and Mapledene
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: 30 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: 72% 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 = 2,627)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
1,890
71.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
185
7.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
156
5.9%
Cavity wall, filled
81
3.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
78
3.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
76
2.9%
Timber frame
40
1.5%
Other or not known
39
1.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
38
1.4%
Solid wall, insulated
34
1.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
4
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
2,352
89.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
157
6.0%
Communal heating
103
3.9%
Heat pump
13
0.5%
LPG
2
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
461
17.6%
Under 200 mm
394
15.0%
200 mm or more
220
8.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
293
11.2%
Flat or other home above
1,196
45.5%
Other
62
2.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,877
71.5%
Single glazed
701
26.7%
Secondary glazing
44
1.7%
Triple glazed
5
0.2%
CDE
Energy rating: B 98 (3.7%) · C 1,098 (41.8%) · D 1,106 (42.1%) · E 271 (10.3%) · F 41 (1.6%) · G 13 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 28% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1997.
Compared with Hackney and England
Share of homes
Graham Road and Mapledene
All 37 areas in Hackney
England
Solid walls, no insulation
71.9%
50.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
89.5%
70.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
54.5%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 57% 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 Hackney if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hackney via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016000, reference CA3, 56.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.