Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Parkleys Estate conservation area
In the Parkleys Estate conservation area (Richmond 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. The area has 15 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. 106 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 12.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 91.5% heat with a gas boiler and 79.2% are rated D–G; 2 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
106homes with an energy certificate
12.3%solid walls, no insulation
91.5%heated by a gas boiler
2heat pumps
Article 4: Richmond upon Thames does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Parkleys Estate
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: 15 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: 86% 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 = 106)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, unfilled
41
38.7%
Other or not known
40
37.7%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
13
12.3%
Cavity wall, filled
2
1.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
2
1.9%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
2
1.9%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
2
1.9%
Timber frame
2
1.9%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.9%
Solid wall, insulated
1
0.9%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
97
91.5%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
6
5.7%
Heat pump
2
1.9%
Communal heating
1
0.9%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
26
24.5%
Under 200 mm
3
2.8%
200 mm or more
2
1.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
22
20.8%
Flat or other home above
51
48.1%
Other
2
1.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Single glazed
67
63.2%
Double glazed
20
18.9%
Secondary glazing
19
17.9%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.9%) · B 2 (1.9%) · C 19 (17.9%) · D 52 (49.1%) · E 25 (23.6%) · F 4 (3.8%) · G 3 (2.8%). Houses and bungalows: 14% of the homes; solar panels on 1.9% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1950-1966. Designated: 2 December 2003.
Compared with Richmond upon Thames and England
Share of homes
Parkleys Estate
All 85 areas in Richmond upon Thames
England
Solid walls, no insulation
12.3%
63.5%
48.7%
Gas boiler
91.5%
83.6%
66.4%
Rated D–G
79.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 45% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 16 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 Richmond upon Thames if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44006534, reference 7412, 6.5 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.