Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Heaver Estate conservation area
In the Heaver Estate conservation area (Wandsworth), 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. 1,699 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 83.6% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 85.8% heat with a gas boiler and 64.7% 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
1,699homes with an energy certificate
83.6%solid walls, no insulation
85.8%heated by a gas boiler
1heat pumps
Article 4: Wandsworth does not publish Article 4 areas on planning.data.gov.uk — check with the council.
What needs planning permission in Heaver Estate
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: 80% 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 = 1,699)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
1,420
83.6%
Timber frame
100
5.9%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
51
3.0%
Cavity wall, unfilled
28
1.6%
Solid wall, internal insulation
24
1.4%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
19
1.1%
Solid wall, insulated
17
1.0%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
12
0.7%
Cavity wall, filled
11
0.6%
Other or not known
10
0.6%
Solid wall, partly insulated
5
0.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
1
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
1
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,457
85.8%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
166
9.8%
Communal heating
67
3.9%
LPG
6
0.4%
Solid fuel (wood, coal)
2
0.1%
Heat pump
1
0.1%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
337
19.9%
Under 200 mm
166
9.8%
200 mm or more
69
4.1%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
231
13.6%
Flat or other home above
876
51.6%
Other
18
1.1%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,196
70.4%
Single glazed
478
28.1%
Secondary glazing
23
1.4%
Triple glazed
2
0.1%
CDE
Energy rating: B 11 (0.6%) · C 589 (34.7%) · D 774 (45.6%) · E 283 (16.7%) · F 33 (1.9%) · G 9 (0.5%). Houses and bungalows: 20% of the homes; solar panels on 0.1% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 1900-1929. Designated: 24 May 1989.
Compared with Wandsworth and England
Share of homes
Heaver Estate
All 47 areas in Wandsworth
England
Solid walls, no insulation
83.6%
62.1%
48.7%
Gas boiler
85.8%
81.0%
66.4%
Rated D–G
64.7%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 51% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 30 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 Wandsworth if in doubt.
Boundary: London Borough of Wandsworth via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44001047, reference 3677, 33.6 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.