Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Nunhead Green conservation area
In the Nunhead Green 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 35% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 6 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. 620 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 55.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 89.2% heat with a gas boiler and 52.3% are rated D–G; 6 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
620homes with an energy certificate
55.8%solid walls, no insulation
89.2%heated by a gas boiler
6heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Southwark covers part of this area (about 35% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (MAN OF KENT; Nunhead Local Town Centre; Old Nuns Head; PYROTECHNISTS ARMS; Protected shopping frontage SF34: Evelina Road, Nunhead Green and Kirkwood Road; Protected shopping frontage SF51: Nunhead Grove and Nunhead Lane)
What needs planning permission in Nunhead Green
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: 6 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: 61% 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 = 620)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
346
55.8%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
75
12.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
72
11.6%
Cavity wall, filled
23
3.7%
Other or not known
23
3.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
18
2.9%
Timber frame
16
2.6%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
15
2.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
12
1.9%
Solid wall, insulated
11
1.8%
Solid wall, external insulation
9
1.5%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
553
89.2%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
45
7.3%
Communal heating
15
2.4%
Heat pump
6
1.0%
LPG
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
87
14.0%
Under 200 mm
116
18.7%
200 mm or more
72
11.6%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
84
13.5%
Flat or other home above
205
33.1%
Other
56
9.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
516
83.2%
Single glazed
83
13.4%
Triple glazed
14
2.3%
Secondary glazing
7
1.1%
BCDE
Energy rating: A 4 (0.6%) · B 78 (12.6%) · C 214 (34.5%) · D 253 (40.8%) · E 64 (10.3%) · F 4 (0.6%) · G 3 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 39% of the homes; solar panels on 0.8% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 16 January 2007.
Compared with Southwark and England
Share of homes
Nunhead Green
All 56 areas in Southwark
England
Solid walls, no insulation
55.8%
56.7%
48.7%
Gas boiler
89.2%
71.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
52.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 47% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 23 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 44010252, reference 38, 15.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.