Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Bakers Arms conservation area
In the Bakers Arms conservation area (Waltham Forest), 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 Waltham Forest covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. The area has 3 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. 231 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 74.0% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 60.6% heat with a gas boiler and 57.1% are rated D–G; 0 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
231homes with an energy certificate
74.0%solid walls, no insulation
60.6%heated by a gas boiler
0heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Waltham Forest covers this area but deals with other things (such as changes of use); it does not change the rules below. (Bakers Arms District Centre; District Centre related A4D; Other Article 4 Direction Area)
What needs planning permission in Bakers Arms
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)
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)
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)
Replacement windows and doors of similar appearance
No permission needed (permitted development)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 3 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: 84% 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 = 231)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
171
74.0%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
14
6.1%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
12
5.2%
Solid wall, insulated
10
4.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
8
3.5%
Other or not known
5
2.2%
Solid wall, external insulation
5
2.2%
Timber frame
4
1.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
1
0.4%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.4%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
140
60.6%
Communal heating
60
26.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
31
13.4%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
34
14.7%
Under 200 mm
28
12.1%
200 mm or more
49
21.2%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
33
14.3%
Flat or other home above
76
32.9%
Other
11
4.8%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
174
75.3%
Single glazed
57
24.7%
CDE
Energy rating: B 13 (5.6%) · C 86 (37.2%) · D 100 (43.3%) · E 31 (13.4%) · F 1 (0.4%). Houses and bungalows: 16% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 1 January 2015.
Compared with Waltham Forest and England
Share of homes
Bakers Arms
All 15 areas in Waltham Forest
England
Solid walls, no insulation
74.0%
66.0%
48.7%
Gas boiler
60.6%
82.5%
66.4%
Rated D–G
57.1%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 71% 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 Waltham Forest if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Waltham Forest via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44006547, reference CA13, 3.7 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.