Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Surbiton Town Centre Conserv Area conservation area
In the Surbiton Town Centre Conserv Area 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 this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 3 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. 308 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 38.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 58.8% heat with a gas boiler and 35.1% are rated D–G; 14 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
308homes with an energy certificate
38.6%solid walls, no insulation
58.8%heated by a gas boiler
14heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Kingston upon Thames covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Surbiton)
What needs planning permission in Surbiton Town Centre Conserv Area
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: 3 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: 98% 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 = 308)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
119
38.6%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
70
22.7%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
65
21.1%
Other or not known
21
6.8%
Timber frame
15
4.9%
Solid wall, insulated
10
3.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
3
1.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
2
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
181
58.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
72
23.4%
Communal heating
40
13.0%
Heat pump
14
4.5%
LPG
1
0.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
22
7.1%
Under 200 mm
26
8.4%
200 mm or more
12
3.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
41
13.3%
Flat or other home above
165
53.6%
Other
42
13.6%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
275
89.3%
Single glazed
24
7.8%
Secondary glazing
9
2.9%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 105 (34.1%) · C 95 (30.8%) · D 72 (23.4%) · E 30 (9.7%) · F 3 (1.0%) · G 3 (1.0%). Houses and bungalows: 2% of the homes; solar panels on 0.3% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 19 June 1991.
Compared with Kingston upon Thames and England
Share of homes
Surbiton Town Centre Conserv Area
All 28 areas in Kingston upon Thames
England
Solid walls, no insulation
38.6%
57.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
58.8%
81.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
35.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 59% 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 Kingston upon Thames if in doubt.
Boundary: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44016359, reference 17, 5.4 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.