Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Belgravia conservation area
In the Belgravia conservation area (Westminster), 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 Westminster covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. The area has 207 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. 2,442 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 81.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 76.7% heat with a gas boiler and 64.3% are rated D–G; 54 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
2,442homes with an energy certificate
81.3%solid walls, no insulation
76.7%heated by a gas boiler
54heat pumps
Article 4: An Article 4 direction published by Westminster covers this area and removes permitted development rights for replacement windows and doors, and other alterations to the house, so there these need planning permission too. (Article 4 Basement Development Permitted Rights Removed; Article 4 Direction Class E To C3 In Central Activities Zone)
What needs planning permission in Belgravia
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
Planning permission needed (an Article 4 direction here removes this right)
Part 1 Class A, A.3(a)
Listed buildings: 207 in the area (grade I: 8, II*: 20). 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: 57% 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 = 2,442)
Walls
Homes
Share
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
1,985
81.3%
Solid wall, internal insulation
80
3.3%
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
79
3.2%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
65
2.7%
Cavity wall, unfilled
63
2.6%
Other or not known
40
1.6%
Timber frame
40
1.6%
Solid wall, insulated
36
1.5%
Solid wall, partly insulated
27
1.1%
Cavity wall, partly insulated
19
0.8%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
3
0.1%
Solid wall, external insulation
3
0.1%
Cavity wall, filled
2
0.1%
Heating
Homes
Share
Gas boiler
1,874
76.7%
Communal heating
316
12.9%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
197
8.1%
Heat pump
54
2.2%
LPG
1
0.0%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
698
28.6%
Under 200 mm
224
9.2%
200 mm or more
69
2.8%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
430
17.6%
Flat or other home above
942
38.6%
Other
79
3.2%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
1,100
45.0%
Single glazed
881
36.1%
Secondary glazing
452
18.5%
Triple glazed
9
0.4%
CDE
Energy rating: A 1 (0.0%) · B 80 (3.3%) · C 792 (32.4%) · D 1,104 (45.2%) · E 392 (16.1%) · F 55 (2.3%) · G 18 (0.7%). Houses and bungalows: 43% of the homes; solar panels on 0.6% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: before 1900. Designated: 1 January 1990.
Compared with Westminster and England
Share of homes
Belgravia
All 56 areas in Westminster
England
Solid walls, no insulation
81.3%
66.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
76.7%
59.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
64.3%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 56% 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 Westminster if in doubt.
Boundary: City of Westminster via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44002875, reference CONARA/1350, 64.9 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.