Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Grove Park conservation area
In the Grove 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 deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 4 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. 770 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 56.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 89.0% heat with a gas boiler and 60.0% are rated D–G; 2 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
770homes with an energy certificate
56.8%solid walls, no insulation
89.0%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Hounslow covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Dwellinghouses (C3) to small HMOs (C4) - borough-wide Article 4 Direction)
What needs planning permission in Grove 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: 4 in the area. 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: 60% 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 = 770)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
437
56.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
131
17.0%
Cavity wall, filled
62
8.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
37
4.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
29
3.8%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
23
3.0%
Timber frame
19
2.5%
Solid wall, insulated
13
1.7%
Other or not known
8
1.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
4
0.5%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
685
89.0%
Communal heating
45
5.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
37
4.8%
Heat pump
2
0.3%
LPG
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
154
20.0%
Under 200 mm
118
15.3%
200 mm or more
45
5.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
143
18.6%
Flat or other home above
294
38.2%
Other
16
2.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
647
84.0%
Single glazed
103
13.4%
Secondary glazing
17
2.2%
Triple glazed
3
0.4%
CDE
Energy rating: B 15 (1.9%) · C 293 (38.1%) · D 323 (41.9%) · E 113 (14.7%) · F 20 (2.6%) · G 6 (0.8%). Houses and bungalows: 40% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 11 January 2002.
Compared with Hounslow and England
Share of homes
Grove Park
All 29 areas in Hounslow
England
Solid walls, no insulation
56.8%
49.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
89.0%
77.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
60.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 51% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 31 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 Hounslow if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Hounslow via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44015586, reference HSLCA22, 61.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.