Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Bedford Park conservation area
In the Bedford Park conservation area (Hounslow), 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 Hounslow covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 90 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. 359 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 91.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 93.0% heat with a gas boiler and 81.6% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
359homes with an energy certificate
91.6%solid walls, no insulation
93.0%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Hounslow covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Article 4(2) directions for Bedford Park and Gunnersbury Conservation areas; Change of use or development that would result in new dwellings (Class MA/ZA); Dwellinghouses (C3) to small HMOs (C4) - borough-wide Article 4 Direction)
What needs planning permission in Bedford 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), 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: 90 in the area (grade I: 0, 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: 48% 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 = 359)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
329
91.6%
Timber frame
17
4.7%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
8
2.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
0.6%
Cavity wall, filled
1
0.3%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.3%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
334
93.0%
Communal heating
13
3.6%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
11
3.1%
Heat pump
1
0.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
117
32.6%
Under 200 mm
59
16.4%
200 mm or more
21
5.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
49
13.6%
Flat or other home above
112
31.2%
Other
1
0.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
220
61.3%
Single glazed
113
31.5%
Secondary glazing
26
7.2%
CDEF
Energy rating: B 1 (0.3%) · C 65 (18.1%) · D 176 (49.0%) · E 83 (23.1%) · F 29 (8.1%) · G 5 (1.4%). Houses and bungalows: 52% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 16 April 1970.
Compared with Hounslow and England
Share of homes
Bedford Park
All 29 areas in Hounslow
England
Solid walls, no insulation
91.6%
49.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
93.0%
77.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
81.6%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 55% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 September 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 Hounslow if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hounslow via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44008758, reference 1205, 17.5 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.