Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Regents Canal conservation area
In the Regents Canal 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 15% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 5 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. 476 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 16.8% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 48.7% heat with a gas boiler and 21.0% are rated D–G; 1 has 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
476homes with an energy certificate
16.8%solid walls, no insulation
48.7%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Tower Hamlets covers part of this area (about 15% of it), but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Cambridge Heath 1; Cambridge Heath 2; Cambridge Heath 3)
What needs planning permission in Regents Canal
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: 5 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: 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 = 476)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
130
27.3%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
105
22.1%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
80
16.8%
Other or not known
71
14.9%
Solid wall, insulated
52
10.9%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
12
2.5%
Timber frame
10
2.1%
Cavity wall, unfilled
5
1.1%
Solid wall, internal insulation
4
0.8%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.6%
Cavity wall, filled
2
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
2
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
232
48.7%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
171
35.9%
Communal heating
70
14.7%
LPG
2
0.4%
Heat pump
1
0.2%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
14
2.9%
Under 200 mm
22
4.6%
200 mm or more
14
2.9%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
63
13.2%
Flat or other home above
306
64.3%
Other
57
12.0%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
423
88.9%
Single glazed
52
10.9%
Secondary glazing
1
0.2%
BCD
Energy rating: A 2 (0.4%) · B 179 (37.6%) · C 195 (41.0%) · D 74 (15.5%) · E 25 (5.3%) · G 1 (0.2%). Houses and bungalows: 9% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1996-2002.
Compared with Tower Hamlets and England
Share of homes
Regents Canal
All 61 areas in Tower Hamlets
England
Solid walls, no insulation
16.8%
41.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
48.7%
61.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
21.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 57% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 13 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 44009090, reference TH-51-RCL, 16.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.