Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Kew Bridge conservation area
In the Kew Bridge 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 9 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. 458 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 4.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 11.6% heat with a gas boiler and 3.3% 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
458homes with an energy certificate
4.6%solid walls, no insulation
11.6%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. (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 Kew Bridge
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: 9 in the area (grade I: 3, II*: 0). 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: 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 = 458)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
254
55.5%
Other or not known
87
19.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
69
15.1%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
21
4.6%
Cavity wall, filled
11
2.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
9
2.0%
Timber frame
3
0.7%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
1
0.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
0.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Communal heating
397
86.7%
Gas boiler
53
11.6%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
6
1.3%
Heat pump
2
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
4
0.9%
Under 200 mm
11
2.4%
200 mm or more
7
1.5%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
18
3.9%
Flat or other home above
337
73.6%
Other
81
17.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
447
97.6%
Secondary glazing
6
1.3%
Single glazed
4
0.9%
Triple glazed
1
0.2%
BC
Energy rating: B 341 (74.5%) · C 102 (22.3%) · D 9 (2.0%) · E 5 (1.1%) · G 1 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 4% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2016. Designated: 1 June 2004.
Compared with Hounslow and England
Share of homes
Kew Bridge
All 29 areas in Hounslow
England
Solid walls, no insulation
4.6%
49.9%
48.7%
Gas boiler
11.6%
77.4%
66.4%
Rated D–G
3.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 40% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 12 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 44009066, reference 1233, 6.9 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.