Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Camberwell Grove conservation area
In the Camberwell Grove conservation area (Southwark), 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 Southwark covers part of this area (about 44% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 68 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. 1,049 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 62.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 86.7% heat with a gas boiler and 56.6% are rated D–G; 16 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
1,049homes with an energy certificate
62.2%solid walls, no insulation
86.7%heated by a gas boiler
16heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Southwark covers part of this area (about 44% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Camberwell District Town Centre; George Canning; Grand Union; PHOENIX; Railway Arches; Site allocation NSP34: 123 Grove Park)
What needs planning permission in Camberwell Grove
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: 68 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: 73% 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 = 1,049)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
652
62.2%
Cavity wall, unfilled
99
9.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
75
7.1%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
70
6.7%
Cavity wall, filled
36
3.4%
Solid wall, insulated
32
3.1%
Timber frame
23
2.2%
Solid wall, internal insulation
22
2.1%
Other or not known
19
1.8%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
13
1.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.3%
Solid wall, partly insulated
3
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.2%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
909
86.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
89
8.5%
Communal heating
34
3.2%
Heat pump
16
1.5%
Oil
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
162
15.4%
Under 200 mm
119
11.3%
200 mm or more
69
6.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
142
13.5%
Flat or other home above
502
47.9%
Other
55
5.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
675
64.3%
Single glazed
351
33.5%
Secondary glazing
19
1.8%
Triple glazed
4
0.4%
CDE
Energy rating: A 4 (0.4%) · B 52 (5.0%) · C 399 (38.0%) · D 393 (37.5%) · E 162 (15.4%) · F 34 (3.2%) · G 5 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 27% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 24 June 1970.
Compared with Southwark and England
Share of homes
Camberwell Grove
All 56 areas in Southwark
England
Solid walls, no insulation
62.2%
56.7%
48.7%
Gas boiler
86.7%
71.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
56.6%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 46% 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 Southwark if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Southwark via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44010219, reference 4, 45.1 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.