Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Lordship Park conservation area
In the Lordship Park 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. 194 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 69.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 91.8% heat with a gas boiler and 44.8% 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
194homes with an energy certificate
69.6%solid walls, no insulation
91.8%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 Lordship Park
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: 93% 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 = 194)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
135
69.6%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
22
11.3%
Timber frame
12
6.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
10
5.2%
Solid wall, insulated
8
4.1%
Cavity wall, filled
2
1.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
2
1.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.5%
Other or not known
1
0.5%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
178
91.8%
Communal heating
10
5.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
4
2.1%
LPG
2
1.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
17
8.8%
Under 200 mm
16
8.2%
200 mm or more
5
2.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
21
10.8%
Flat or other home above
116
59.8%
Other
19
9.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
133
68.6%
Single glazed
58
29.9%
Secondary glazing
3
1.5%
CD
Energy rating: B 13 (6.7%) · C 94 (48.5%) · D 70 (36.1%) · E 15 (7.7%) · F 2 (1.0%). Houses and bungalows: 7% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 2004.
Compared with Hackney and England
Share of homes
Lordship Park
All 37 areas in Hackney
England
Solid walls, no insulation
69.6%
50.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
91.8%
70.8%
66.4%
Rated D–G
44.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 46% 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 44016033, reference CA33, 5.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.