Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Claremont Road conservation area
In the Claremont Road conservation area (Kingston upon Thames), 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 Kingston upon Thames covers part of this area (about 6% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 1 listed building; on a listed building solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development at all and need planning permission and listed building consent. 362 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 59.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 71.3% heat with a gas boiler and 56.9% are rated D–G; 8 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
362homes with an energy certificate
59.1%solid walls, no insulation
71.3%heated by a gas boiler
8heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Kingston upon Thames covers part of this area (about 6% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Surbiton)
What needs planning permission in Claremont Road
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: 1 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: 95% 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 = 362)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
214
59.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
42
11.6%
Timber frame
18
5.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
17
4.7%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
16
4.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
16
4.4%
Cavity wall, filled
15
4.1%
Solid wall, internal insulation
10
2.8%
Solid wall, insulated
7
1.9%
Other or not known
4
1.1%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.6%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
258
71.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
91
25.1%
Heat pump
8
2.2%
Communal heating
5
1.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
31
8.6%
Under 200 mm
24
6.6%
200 mm or more
14
3.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
36
9.9%
Flat or other home above
257
71.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
254
70.2%
Single glazed
102
28.2%
Secondary glazing
6
1.7%
CDE
Energy rating: B 4 (1.1%) · C 152 (42.0%) · D 153 (42.3%) · E 42 (11.6%) · F 8 (2.2%) · G 3 (0.8%). Houses and bungalows: 5% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 21 October 1987.
Compared with Kingston upon Thames and England
Share of homes
Claremont Road
All 28 areas in Kingston upon Thames
England
Solid walls, no insulation
59.1%
57.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
71.3%
81.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
56.9%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 59% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 18 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 Kingston upon Thames if in doubt.
Boundary: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016356, reference 14, 9.3 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.