Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Park Road conservation area
In the Park 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 7% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. 225 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 59.1% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 85.3% heat with a gas boiler and 53.8% 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
225homes with an energy certificate
59.1%solid walls, no insulation
85.3%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Kingston upon Thames covers part of this area (about 7% of it) but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Kingston Hill and Park Road)
What needs planning permission in Park 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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 82% 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 = 225)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
133
59.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
37
16.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
29
12.9%
Timber frame
13
5.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
5
2.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
1.3%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
0.9%
Solid wall, insulated
2
0.9%
Cavity wall, filled
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
192
85.3%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
31
13.8%
Communal heating
1
0.4%
Heat pump
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
39
17.3%
Under 200 mm
21
9.3%
200 mm or more
8
3.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
34
15.1%
Flat or other home above
98
43.6%
Other
25
11.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
186
82.7%
Single glazed
34
15.1%
Secondary glazing
5
2.2%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 19 (8.4%) · C 85 (37.8%) · D 88 (39.1%) · E 27 (12.0%) · F 4 (1.8%) · G 2 (0.9%). Houses and bungalows: 18% of the homes; solar panels on 0.9% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 14 June 1989.
Compared with Kingston upon Thames and England
Share of homes
Park Road
All 28 areas in Kingston upon Thames
England
Solid walls, no insulation
59.1%
57.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
85.3%
81.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
53.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 60% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 19 August 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 44016346, reference 3, 5.6 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.