Sustainable retrofitting
Sustainable retrofitting is when an existing building is upgraded to be more energy efficient and use cleaner energy such as solar PV panels.
In a typical British home up to a third of the heat produced by central heating systems is lost through the roof, walls, floor and windows.
For a poorly insulated property, this means that £1 out of every £3 spent on energy is wasted.
See how much heat your building is losing with a heat loss map.
Householder greening guides
We have a series of guides to help homeowners upgrade their homes to:
- reduce their carbon footprint
- save on energy bills
- reduce the impact of extreme weather
The guides provide information on:
- options available
- permissions you need
- how to make a planning application if you need to apply
External solar shading
Householders' guide to external solar shading (Story map)
Flood protection
Heat pumps
Householders' guide to heat pumps (Story map)
Windows
Retrofit guides for a conservation area
If you live in a conservation area, you may need additional permissions to retrofit your home. These guides explain what you can do and how to apply.
Though our Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy, we've funded retrofit guides for the Edward Square Scarsdale and Abingdon (ESSA) Conservation Area.
These guides offer information for homeowners on how to make your properties more environmentally friendly while preserving the area's unique character.
Although these guides are tailored for three housing types in the ESSA conservation area, the principles outlined are broadly applicable across the entire borough.
Guide to the Greening SPD
We've produced a Householder Guide to o help those wishing to upgrade their homes.
We're also looking at Local Listed Building Consent Orders to help owners of listed buildings undertake common retrofit projects with greater ease.
We have created a short guide for householders which sits alongside our Greening SPD.
This guide focuses on matters that are applicable to householders in a shortened and simplified format.
The Householder Guide to the Greening SPD is not a statutory planning document and should only be used as a guidance document.
Works to listed buildings
Some work, such as installing solar PV panels, may not need planning permission if the panels are fitted discreetly.
You can find more guidance on the Planning Portal.
If your building is listed, you will usually need listed building consent before carrying out any work.
There are some exceptions to this, depending on the type of work and the building's level of protection.
Local Listed Building Consent Orders
A Local Listed Building Consent Order (LLBCO) is a pro-active and blanket grant of listed building consent by the council.
This means that if you own a relevant listed building as specified in the LLBCO, you will not have to make individual applications to us.
Instead you can start with the works if they meet the conditions attached to the order.
We've made three LLBCOs for:
- installing solar panels
- window works
- specific window works in the Queen’s Gate, Pembridge and Holland Park Conservation Areas
If you're unsure whether your plans are covered by the LLBCOs, or want written confirmation that they do, we can offer advice through our pre-application service.
You may also want to apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Works.
- LLBCO for installing solar panels
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This order was made on 18 May 2022.
It allows solar PV panels on Grade II and most Grade II* buildings.
The order contains conditions to ensure that panels are:
- sensitively designed
- positioned on the building so they do not have a harmful visual effect on the building itself or the wider area
We grant consent provided you meet the conditions in the order.Read the order for installing solar panels for more information.
- LLBCO for window works
-
This order was made on 18 May 2023.
It allows certain changes to windows in Grade II listed buildings only, including:
- the installation of secondary glazing to any window
- the installation of double-glazed windows or double-glazed sealed units within existing frames in certain circumstances and providing the window to be replaced or altered:
- is itself a replacement or a new window in an extension,
- was installed after the date of listing and has with the benefit of listed building consent.
Read the order for window works for more information.
No application for approval of details is required under the order.
- LLBCO for window works in the Queen’s Gate, Pembridge and Holland Park Conservation Areas
-
This LLBCO was made on 20 March 2026.
It covers changes to windows in Grade II listed buildings only.
It applies to the Queen’s Gate, Pembridge and Holland Park Conservation Areas.
This includes replacing existing, machine manufactured float glass in sash windows with a one-over-one or two-over-two configuration, with slimline double glazing.
There are a number of conditions you must meet to carry out the works under this Order.
You can view these conditions in the LLBCO:
- this includes the nature of the evidence which must be submitted to us before you can make use of the order
- it also includes a brief guide to understanding and using the order.
Documents
More information on how to submit the details required by condition vii) of the Order is available below.
