Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation in Smith Square conservation area
In the Smith Square 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 76 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. 395 homes inside the boundary have an energy certificate: 24.3% are solid-wall homes with no wall insulation, 18.0% heat with a gas boiler and 20.0% are rated D–G; 2 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
395homes with an energy certificate
24.3%solid walls, no insulation
18.0%heated by a gas boiler
2heat 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)
What needs planning permission in Smith Square
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: 76 in the area (grade I: 1, II*: 24). 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: 89% 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 = 395)
Walls
Homes
Share
Modern wall (U-value from the design)
243
61.5%
Solid wall (brick or stone), no insulation
96
24.3%
Cavity wall, internal or external insulation
26
6.6%
Solid wall, insulated
14
3.5%
Solid wall, internal insulation
6
1.5%
Cavity wall, insulated (as built or unspecified)
3
0.8%
Other or not known
3
0.8%
Timber frame
3
0.8%
Solid wall, partly insulated
1
0.3%
Heating
Homes
Share
Communal heating
314
79.5%
Gas boiler
71
18.0%
Electric (storage heaters, panels, boiler)
7
1.8%
Heat pump
2
0.5%
LPG
1
0.3%
Loft / roof insulation
Homes
Share
No insulation
24
6.1%
Under 200 mm
4
1.0%
200 mm or more
8
2.0%
Insulated (depth not recorded)
10
2.5%
Flat or other home above
283
71.6%
Other
66
16.7%
Windows
Homes
Share
Double glazed
311
78.7%
Single glazed
67
17.0%
Secondary glazing
14
3.5%
Triple glazed
3
0.8%
BCD
Energy rating: B 200 (50.6%) · C 116 (29.4%) · D 57 (14.4%) · E 19 (4.8%) · F 2 (0.5%) · G 1 (0.3%). Houses and bungalows: 11% of the homes; solar panels on 0.0% of the certificates. Most common build period on the certificates: 2018. Designated: 17 November 1987.
Compared with Westminster and England
Share of homes
Smith Square
All 56 areas in Westminster
England
Solid walls, no insulation
24.3%
66.4%
48.7%
Gas boiler
18.0%
59.2%
66.4%
Rated D–G
20.0%
—
56.5%
Caveats
Certificates describe a home when it was assessed; 79% of these are from 2020 or later (latest 25 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 Westminster if in doubt.
Boundary: City of Westminster via planning.data.gov.uk (entity 44002883, reference CONARA/1430, 10.4 ha); the council's appraisal or map. Homes are placed by the coordinates of their UPRN (OS Open UPRN); addresses are not shown.