Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Gunter Estate conservation area
In the Gunter Estate conservation area (Hammersmith & Fulham), 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. 1,105 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 86.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 72.7% heat with a gas boiler and 43.0% are rated D–G; 3 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
1,105homes with an energy certificate
86.1%solid walls, no insulation
72.7%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: Hammersmith & Fulham does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Gunter Estate
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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)
Prior approval of appearance from the council, unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development), unless an Article 4 direction removes it — check with the council
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: 96% 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 = 1,105)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
951
86.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
37
3.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
35
3.2%
Timber frame
27
2.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
14
1.3%
Other or not known
9
0.8%
Solid wall, insulated
9
0.8%
Cavity wall, filled
8
0.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
8
0.7%
Solid wall, partly insulated
4
0.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
0.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
803
72.7%
Communal heating
230
20.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
68
6.2%
Heat pump
3
0.3%
LPG
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
135
12.2%
Under 200 mm
40
3.6%
200 mm or more
17
1.5%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
76
6.9%
Flat or other home above
812
73.5%
Other
25
2.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
632
57.2%
Single glazed
400
36.2%
Secondary glazing
63
5.7%
Triple glazed
10
0.9%
CD
Energy rating: B 42 (3.8%) · C 588 (53.2%) · D 379 (34.3%) · E 85 (7.7%) · F 8 (0.7%) · G 3 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 4% of the homes; solar panels on 0.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929.
Compared with Hammersmith & Fulham and England
Share of homes
Gunter Estate
All 46 areas in Hammersmith & Fulham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
86.1%
65.3%
48.7%
Gas boiler
72.7%
70.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
43.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 63% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 21 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 Hammersmith & Fulham if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44008377, reference 34, 14.7 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.