Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Northwood, Frithwood conservation area
In the Northwood, Frithwood conservation area (Hillingdon), 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 Hillingdon covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. 170 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 40.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 98.2% heat with a gas boiler and 52.9% 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
170homes with an energy certificate
40.6%solid walls, no insulation
98.2%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Hillingdon covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. (Residential extensions)
What needs planning permission in Northwood, Frithwood
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
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: 71% 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 = 170)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
69
40.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
42
24.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
17
10.0%
Cavity wall, filled
11
6.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
11
6.5%
Timber frame
10
5.9%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
5
2.9%
Solid wall, insulated
4
2.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.6%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
167
98.2%
Communal heating
2
1.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
1
0.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
17
10.0%
Under 200 mm
32
18.8%
200 mm or more
21
12.4%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
19
11.2%
Flat or other home above
76
44.7%
Other
5
2.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
149
87.6%
Single glazed
14
8.2%
Secondary glazing
7
4.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 15 (8.8%) · C 65 (38.2%) · D 70 (41.2%) · E 20 (11.8%). Houses and bungalows: 29% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 2 January 1989.
Compared with Hillingdon and England
Share of homes
Northwood, Frithwood
All 32 areas in Hillingdon
England
Solid walls, no insulation
40.6%
25.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
98.2%
62.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
52.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 54% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 Hillingdon if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hillingdon via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015537, reference CA-15, 14.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.