Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in THRHC/North Tottenham conservation area
In the THRHC/North Tottenham conservation area (Haringey), 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 Haringey covers part of this area (about 3% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 28 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. 466 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 53.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 79.2% heat with a gas boiler and 44.8% are rated D–G; 4 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
466homes with an energy certificate
53.2%solid walls, no insulation
79.2%heated by a gas boiler
4heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Haringey covers part of this area (about 3% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (High Road East)
What needs planning permission in THRHC/North Tottenham
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: 28 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 4). 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: 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 = 466)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
248
53.2%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
51
10.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
41
8.8%
Other or not known
29
6.2%
Cavity wall, filled
27
5.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
21
4.5%
Timber frame
21
4.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
13
2.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
5
1.1%
Solid wall, insulated
5
1.1%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
369
79.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
66
14.2%
Communal heating
27
5.8%
Heat pump
4
0.9%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
86
18.5%
Under 200 mm
36
7.7%
200 mm or more
17
3.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
65
13.9%
Flat or other home above
235
50.4%
Other
27
5.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
384
82.4%
Single glazed
76
16.3%
Secondary glazing
5
1.1%
Triple glazed
1
0.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 70 (15.0%) · C 187 (40.1%) · D 164 (35.2%) · E 41 (8.8%) · F 1 (0.2%) · G 3 (0.6%). 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: 28 March 1972.
Compared with Haringey and England
Share of homes
THRHC/North Tottenham
All 38 areas in Haringey
England
Solid walls, no insulation
53.2%
66.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
79.2%
80.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
44.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 58% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 1 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 Haringey if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Haringey via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014343, reference CA2, 12.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.