Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Riverside South conservation area
In the Riverside South 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 24% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 12 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. 191 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 74.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 90.1% heat with a gas boiler and 60.7% are rated D–G; 0 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
191homes with an energy certificate
74.3%solid walls, no insulation
90.1%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Kingston upon Thames covers part of this area (about 24% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Seething Wells Filter Beds)
What needs planning permission in Riverside South
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: 12 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 1). 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: 78% 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 = 191)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
142
74.3%
Cavity wall, filled
32
16.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
9
4.7%
Timber frame
4
2.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
1
0.5%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
1
0.5%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
172
90.1%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
14
7.3%
Communal heating
5
2.6%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
38
19.9%
Under 200 mm
25
13.1%
200 mm or more
8
4.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
14
7.3%
Flat or other home above
105
55.0%
Other
1
0.5%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
169
88.5%
Single glazed
21
11.0%
Secondary glazing
1
0.5%
CDE
Energy rating: B 2 (1.0%) · C 73 (38.2%) · D 82 (42.9%) · E 31 (16.2%) · F 2 (1.0%) · G 1 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 22% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1930-1949. Designated: 11 February 2003.
Compared with Kingston upon Thames and England
Share of homes
Riverside South
All 28 areas in Kingston upon Thames
England
Solid walls, no insulation
74.3%
57.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
90.1%
81.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
60.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 50% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 7 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 44016364, reference 23, 22.8 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.