Planning

Camden Council is in the process of updating their planning guidance for retrofit. We hope that this will be available shortly.

Permitted development rights for photovoltaic solar panels:

You are allowed to put photovoltaic solar panels on your roof, if you follow certain conditions, eg. it is installed in a neat and tidy arrangement). This applies to conservation areas as well: if a roof that receives enough sunlight for solar panels is facing a street, you are permitted to put solar panels on it.

Here is Camden Councils’ draft guidance:

There have previously been three conservation areas in Camden where permitted development rights for solar panels have been removed (through what is called an Article 4 Direction): Hampstead, South Hampstead and Belsize conservation areas. The Council is in the process of removing these Article 4 Directions, so that solar panels will be permitted development in these areas also. This is expected to come into force in June 2026.

Permitted development rights for heat pumps:

The installation of a ground source heat pump or a water source heat pump on domestic premises is usually considered to be permitted development, not needing an application for planning permission.

If you live in a listed building or a conservation area you should check with Camden Council’s planning department, by contacting planning@camden.gov.uk.

London Councils have produced London Retrofit Heritage Homes Guide to help boroughs support sensitive, low-carbon upgrades that preserve the city’s historic architectural heritage. This is meant for planners and is quite detailed, but is helpful for reference to planning policy.