Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Brockley conservation area
In the Brockley conservation area (Lewisham), 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 Lewisham covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 18 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. 2,806 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 81.4% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 92.2% heat with a gas boiler and 58.7% are rated D–G; 25 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
2,806homes with an energy certificate
81.4%solid walls, no insulation
92.2%heated by a gas boiler
25heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Lewisham covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. (Brockley Conservation Area; Brockley Cross Local Centre; Small HMO Northern Extension)
What needs planning permission in Brockley
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Replacing windows in Brockley almost always requires planning permission. Lewisham council's Article 4 direction covers the whole area and removes permitted development rights for replacing windows and doors and other alterations to the house, even though in an ordinary area you can swap in similar-looking windows without an application. On top of that come the general rules for conservation areas: external wall insulation and a heat pump facing the road need permission.
Flats and single glazing
Flats and maisonettes make up 81% of homes with an EPC (2,271 of 2,806), and a flat has no householder permitted development rights. A typical situation: the owner of a flat with single glazing, like 1,003 homes in the area, wants double glazing. That takes planning permission and the freeholder's consent. Without the paperwork, what remains is internal wall insulation; it has been done in 69 homes.
According to the EPC register for November 2026, 81.4% have uninsulated solid walls (69.0% across Lewisham's conservation areas, 48.7% across England), 92% have gas, and there are 25 heat pumps. Neighbouring areas: St Johns, Ladywell. The national rules are those in force on 21 October 2026; if in doubt, Lewisham council decides.
The homes in the area (latest certificate per home, n = 2,806)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
2,284
81.4%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
196
7.0%
Solid wall, internal insulation
69
2.5%
Timber frame
56
2.0%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
50
1.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
49
1.7%
Cavity wall, filled
33
1.2%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
27
1.0%
Other or not known
18
0.6%
Solid wall, insulated
10
0.4%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
5
0.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
5
0.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
4
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
2,588
92.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
147
5.2%
Communal heating
39
1.4%
Heat pump
25
0.9%
LPG
4
0.1%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.1%
Oil
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
455
16.2%
Under 200 mm
392
14.0%
200 mm or more
232
8.3%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
246
8.8%
Flat or other home above
1,444
51.5%
Other
37
1.3%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,753
62.5%
Single glazed
1,003
35.7%
Secondary glazing
37
1.3%
Triple glazed
13
0.5%
CDE
Energy rating: A 4 (0.1%) · B 58 (2.1%) · C 1,097 (39.1%) · D 1,270 (45.3%) · E 325 (11.6%) · F 37 (1.3%) · G 15 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 19% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 1973.
Compared with Lewisham and England
Share of homes
Brockley
All 31 areas in Lewisham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
81.4%
69.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
92.2%
85.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
58.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 56% 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 Lewisham if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Lewisham via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44014971, reference LEWCA7, 116.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.