Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in West India Dock conservation area
In the West India Dock 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 this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. The area has 11 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. 240 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 32.5% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 30.4% heat with a gas boiler and 39.2% 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
240homes with an energy certificate
32.5%solid walls, no insulation
30.4%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Tower Hamlets covers this area, but the published data does not say which rights it removes — check the direction before any work. (Canary Wharf)
What needs planning permission in West India Dock
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: 11 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: 94% 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 = 240)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
78
32.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
73
30.4%
Other or not known
58
24.2%
Solid wall, insulated
25
10.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
3
1.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.4%
Solid wall, internal insulation
1
0.4%
Timber frame
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
166
69.2%
Gas boiler
73
30.4%
Heat pump
1
0.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
7
2.9%
Under 200 mm
7
2.9%
200 mm or more
3
1.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
43
17.9%
Flat or other home above
179
74.6%
Other
1
0.4%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
238
99.2%
Secondary glazing
1
0.4%
Single glazed
1
0.4%
BCDE
Energy rating: B 43 (17.9%) · C 103 (42.9%) · D 69 (28.7%) · E 21 (8.8%) · F 3 (1.2%) · G 1 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 6% 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
West India Dock
All 61 areas in Tower Hamlets
England
Solid walls, no insulation
32.5%
41.8%
48.7%
Gas boiler
30.4%
61.1%
66.4%
Rated D–G
39.2%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 58% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 8 September 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 44003458, reference TH-19-WID, 5.8 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.