Let’s change planning rules on older homes
Who we are
We are a group of residents in Islington, North London, who have come together in frustration, after each of us was stopped from adapting our home in response to the current climate and energy crisis. Meet the team.
Written for a different era, planning regulations ban the installation of solar panels on listed homes and in most conservation areas, even on roofs that can’t be seen from the street. In listed homes, even double glazing is not permitted. By working with others in London and ultimately across the UK, we want to bring about change.
Why older homes matter
The ten local authorities in the UK with the lowest take-up of small-scale renewable technologies are all in London. This is unsurprising: the capital has many protected buildings and space is at a premium.
Yet experts agree that London will not meet its climate targets if its many listed homes and conservation areas are left unchanged, as current planning regulations demand.
A new conversation
Planning regulations have helped preserve the character of our streets and neighbourhoods for many years. Yet soaring energy bills and the climate emergency call for new answers.
Our local authorities are stretched like never before. This campaign aims to support planners and policy makers to update and simplify planning rules as a matter of urgency. Find out more.