Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Tower Bridge conservation area
In the Tower Bridge 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 this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 16 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. 1,230 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 22.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 20.9% heat with a gas boiler and 30.3% 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
1,230homes with an energy certificate
22.5%solid walls, no insulation
20.9%heated by a gas boiler
25heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Southwark covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Anchor Tap; Central Activities Zone; Dean Swift; Draft House; London Bridge District Town Centre; Pommeler's Rest)
What needs planning permission in Tower Bridge
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: 16 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 0). 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 = 1,230)
Walls
Homes
Share
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
424
34.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
277
22.5%
Other or not known
222
18.0%
Solid wall, insulated
218
17.7%
Timber frame
25
2.0%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
23
1.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
12
1.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
11
0.9%
Solid wall, partly insulated
10
0.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
4
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.2%
Cavity wall, filled
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
830
67.5%
Gas boiler
257
20.9%
Communal heating
118
9.6%
Heat pump
25
2.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
22
1.8%
Under 200 mm
1
0.1%
200 mm or more
1
0.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
202
16.4%
Flat or other home above
994
80.8%
Other
10
0.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,123
91.4%
Single glazed
97
7.9%
Secondary glazing
5
0.4%
Triple glazed
4
0.3%
BCD
Energy rating: B 203 (16.5%) · C 654 (53.2%) · D 266 (21.6%) · E 92 (7.5%) · F 13 (1.1%) · G 2 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 1% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1996-2002. Designated: 7 February 1978.
Compared with Southwark and England
Share of homes
Tower Bridge
All 56 areas in Southwark
England
Solid walls, no insulation
22.5%
56.7%
48.7%
Gas boiler
20.9%
71.3%
66.4%
Rated D–G
30.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 56% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 28 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 44010231, reference 17, 14.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.