Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in South Bank conservation area
In the South Bank 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 part of this area (about 28% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 16 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. 1,395 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 18.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 0.0% heat with a gas boiler and 11.3% are rated D–G; 4 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
1,395homes with an energy certificate
18.6%solid walls, no insulation
0.0%heated by a gas boiler
4heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Lambeth covers part of this area (about 28% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Modified Direction 1 - CAZ)
What needs planning permission in South Bank
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: 16 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 5). 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: 100% 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 = 1,395)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
543
38.9%
Other or not known
416
29.8%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
260
18.6%
Solid wall, insulated
68
4.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
42
3.0%
Timber frame
35
2.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
17
1.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
6
0.4%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
0.4%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
0.1%
Cavity wall, filled
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Communal heating
852
61.1%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
539
38.6%
Heat pump
4
0.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
30
2.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
45
3.2%
Flat or other home above
1,195
85.7%
Other
125
9.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,086
77.8%
Secondary glazing
276
19.8%
Triple glazed
28
2.0%
Single glazed
5
0.4%
BC
Energy rating: B 665 (47.7%) · C 573 (41.1%) · D 110 (7.9%) · E 45 (3.2%) · F 2 (0.1%). Houses and bungalows: 0% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2019. Designated: 27 July 1982.
Compared with Lambeth and England
Share of homes
South Bank
All 65 areas in Lambeth
England
Solid walls, no insulation
18.6%
64.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
0.0%
73.7%
66.4%
Rated D–G
11.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 51% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 44008830, reference CA38, 47.2 ha). Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.