Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Hackney Wick conservation area
In the Hackney Wick 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. 226 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 8.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 28.8% heat with a gas boiler and 10.6% are rated D–G; 0 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
226homes with an energy certificate
8.0%solid walls, no insulation
28.8%heated by a gas boiler
0heat 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 Hackney Wick
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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 100% 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 = 226)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
172
76.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
32
14.2%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
18
8.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
4
1.8%
Heating
Homes
Share
Communal heating
160
70.8%
Gas boiler
65
28.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
8
3.5%
Under 200 mm
3
1.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
10
4.4%
Flat or other home above
143
63.3%
Other
62
27.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
179
79.2%
Single glazed
45
19.9%
Triple glazed
2
0.9%
BC
Energy rating: B 177 (78.3%) · C 25 (11.1%) · D 16 (7.1%) · E 7 (3.1%) · G 1 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 0% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2018. Designated: 1 January 2009.
Compared with Hackney and England
Share of homes
Hackney Wick
All 37 areas in Hackney
England
Solid walls, no insulation
8.0%
50.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
28.8%
70.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
10.6%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 85% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 17 September 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 44016026, reference CA18, 4.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.