Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Kingsland conservation area
In the Kingsland 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. 2,539 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 25.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 52.8% heat with a gas boiler and 22.8% 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
2,539homes with an energy certificate
25.5%solid walls, no insulation
52.8%heated by a gas boiler
2heat 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; Hackney Central Activity Zone; Kingsland Road Local Shopping Centre; Kingsland Road/Waste Local Shopping Centre)
What needs planning permission in Kingsland
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 (grade I: 4, II*: 2). 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 = 2,539)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
648
25.5%
Other or not known
624
24.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
456
18.0%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
382
15.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
165
6.5%
Timber frame
78
3.1%
Solid wall, insulated
55
2.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
42
1.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
40
1.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
23
0.9%
Cavity wall, filled
18
0.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
6
0.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
2
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,340
52.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
753
29.7%
Communal heating
442
17.4%
Heat pump
2
0.1%
LPG
2
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
189
7.4%
Under 200 mm
56
2.2%
200 mm or more
28
1.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
418
16.5%
Flat or other home above
1,662
65.5%
Other
186
7.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
2,180
85.9%
Single glazed
286
11.3%
Secondary glazing
58
2.3%
Triple glazed
15
0.6%
BCD
Energy rating: A 4 (0.2%) · B 701 (27.6%) · C 1,254 (49.4%) · D 422 (16.6%) · E 148 (5.8%) · F 8 (0.3%) · G 2 (0.1%). Houses and bungalows: 3% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2003-2006. Designated: 1 January 1998.
Compared with Hackney and England
Share of homes
Kingsland
All 37 areas in Hackney
England
Solid walls, no insulation
25.5%
50.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
52.8%
70.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
22.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 58% 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 44015999, reference CA4, 30.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.