Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Brixton conservation area
In the Brixton conservation area (Lambeth), 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 Lambeth covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 21 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. 1,253 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 45.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 59.1% heat with a gas boiler and 27.8% are rated D–G; 3 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
1,253homes with an energy certificate
45.6%solid walls, no insulation
59.1%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Lambeth covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Modified Direction 3 - Town Centres)
What needs planning permission in Brixton
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: 21 in the area (grade I: 0, II*: 3). 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 = 1,253)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
571
45.6%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
300
23.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
167
13.3%
Other or not known
105
8.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
44
3.5%
Timber frame
31
2.5%
Solid wall, insulated
14
1.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
8
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
8
0.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
740
59.1%
Communal heating
343
27.4%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
167
13.3%
Heat pump
3
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
132
10.5%
Under 200 mm
32
2.6%
200 mm or more
21
1.7%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
155
12.4%
Flat or other home above
775
61.9%
Other
138
11.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
957
76.4%
Single glazed
221
17.6%
Secondary glazing
68
5.4%
Triple glazed
7
0.6%
BCD
Energy rating: B 355 (28.3%) · C 550 (43.9%) · D 278 (22.2%) · E 63 (5.0%) · F 3 (0.2%) · G 4 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 2% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 20 October 1980.
Compared with Lambeth and England
Share of homes
Brixton
All 65 areas in Lambeth
England
Solid walls, no insulation
45.6%
64.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
59.1%
73.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
27.8%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 47% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 Lambeth if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Lambeth via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44006592, reference CA26, 22.3 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.