Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Fournier Street conservation area
In the Fournier Street 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 26% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 94 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. 1,708 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 39.2% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 68.9% heat with a gas boiler and 34.4% 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
1,708homes with an energy certificate
39.2%solid walls, no insulation
68.9%heated by a gas boiler
6heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Tower Hamlets covers part of this area (about 26% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Artillery Lane; Brick Lane)
What needs planning permission in Fournier Street
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: 94 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 6). 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: 91% 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 = 1,708)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
669
39.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
468
27.4%
Other or not known
163
9.5%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
147
8.6%
Solid wall, insulated
81
4.7%
Timber frame
49
2.9%
Solid wall, internal insulation
47
2.8%
Cavity wall, unfilled
32
1.9%
Cavity wall, filled
25
1.5%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
20
1.2%
Solid wall, partly insulated
4
0.2%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
2
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,176
68.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
403
23.6%
Communal heating
120
7.0%
Heat pump
6
0.4%
LPG
3
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
225
13.2%
Under 200 mm
76
4.4%
200 mm or more
36
2.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
272
15.9%
Flat or other home above
1,016
59.5%
Other
83
4.9%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,441
84.4%
Single glazed
215
12.6%
Secondary glazing
40
2.3%
Triple glazed
12
0.7%
BCD
Energy rating: B 301 (17.6%) · C 819 (48.0%) · D 448 (26.2%) · E 123 (7.2%) · F 9 (0.5%) · G 8 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 9% of the homes; solar panels on 0.2% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 October 2008.
Compared with Tower Hamlets and England
Share of homes
Fournier Street
All 61 areas in Tower Hamlets
England
Solid walls, no insulation
39.2%
41.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
68.9%
61.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
34.4%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 60% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 29 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 44003484, reference TH-05-FRS, 35.0 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.