Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Deptford Town Hall conservation area
In the Deptford Town Hall 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, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 4 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. 96 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 98% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 40% heat with a gas boiler and 53% 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
96homes with an energy certificate
98%solid walls, no insulation
40%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Lewisham covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (New Cross District Centre; Small HMO Northern Extension)
What needs planning permission in Deptford Town Hall
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: 4 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: 99% 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 = 96)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
94
98%
Timber frame
2
2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Communal heating
56
58%
Gas boiler
38
40%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
2
2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
40
42%
Under 200 mm
5
5%
200 mm or more
5
5%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
3
3%
Flat or other home above
43
45%
Windows
Homes
Share
Single glazed
56
58%
Double glazed
30
31%
Secondary glazing
10
10%
CD
Energy rating: C 45 (47%) · D 48 (50%) · E 2 (2%) · F 1 (1%). Houses and bungalows: 1% of the homes; solar panels on 0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1930-1949. Designated: 1 January 2000.
Compared with Lewisham and England
Share of homes
Deptford Town Hall
All 31 areas in Lewisham
England
Solid walls, no insulation
98%
69.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
40%
85.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
53%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 89% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 5 July 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 44014986, reference LEWCA22, 2.3 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.