Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Driffield Road conservation area
In the Driffield Road conservation area (Tower Hamlets), 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 Tower Hamlets covers part of this area (about 5% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. 529 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 79.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 92.6% heat with a gas boiler and 59.0% are rated D–G; 3 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
529homes with an energy certificate
79.2%solid walls, no insulation
92.6%heated by a gas boiler
3heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Tower Hamlets covers part of this area (about 5% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Roman Road East)
What needs planning permission in Driffield Road
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: none recorded inside the boundary; on a listed building, solar panels and heat pumps are not permitted development and need listed building consent.
Flats: 59% 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 = 529)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
419
79.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
50
9.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
15
2.8%
Solid wall, internal insulation
15
2.8%
Timber frame
10
1.9%
Solid wall, insulated
5
0.9%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
4
0.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
4
0.8%
Other or not known
3
0.6%
Cavity wall, filled
2
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
490
92.6%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
34
6.4%
Heat pump
3
0.6%
Communal heating
1
0.2%
LPG
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
128
24.2%
Under 200 mm
127
24.0%
200 mm or more
42
7.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
59
11.2%
Flat or other home above
155
29.3%
Other
18
3.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
418
79.0%
Single glazed
105
19.8%
Secondary glazing
6
1.1%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.2%) · B 8 (1.5%) · C 208 (39.3%) · D 248 (46.9%) · E 56 (10.6%) · F 5 (0.9%) · G 3 (0.6%). Houses and bungalows: 41% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929.
Compared with Tower Hamlets and England
Share of homes
Driffield Road
All 61 areas in Tower Hamlets
England
Solid walls, no insulation
79.2%
41.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
92.6%
61.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
59.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 50% 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 Tower Hamlets if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Tower Hamlets via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44003466, reference TH-31-DRC, 9.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.