The UK government has scrapped the need for planning permission for heat pump installations in densely-populated areas, estimated to impact around 40% of customers.
Swedish clean energy-tech company Aira said the move is a major step forward in simplifying heat pump installations. The company commissioned a Freedom of Information study revealing delays of up to six months for heat pump planning permission approval.
Aira UK CEO Daniel Sarefjord said: “Today, up to half of all gas boiler installations are distressed purchases – consumers buying a new boiler to replace an old one that has broken down. These people won’t wait two to six months for planning permission because you can’t live without heating and hot water for that long.
“This absurd policy affected up to 40% of our customers, that’s why we have campaigned for years to reform permitted development rights and make it easier for homeowners to replace their fossil fuelled gas or oil boiler with an eco-friendly heat pump.”
As the industry continues to scale-up, Aira says the previous delay for homeowners and the bureaucratic burden on councils and heat pump installers was unsustainable, with planning red tape slowing the UK’s transition to low carbon heating
The Government has stated that heat pumps will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets and has targeted 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. The scrapping of the planning permission requirement forms part of its Warm Homes Plan.
Key changes outlined include:
- Removing the rule that no air source heat pump can be fitted within one metre of the boundary of a property under permitted development.
- Increasing the maximum size of air source heat pump allowable under permitted development from 0.6 m3 to 1.5 m3.
- Doubling the number of air source heat pumps permitted, from one to two for detached dwelling houses, to allow cascade systems to benefit from the same rules as individual units.
- Allowing air-to-air heat pumps that can also provide a cooling function to benefit from the same permitted development rights as air to water heat pumps.
- There are 25 million boilers installed in households across the UK.
According to the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, thousands of households in England and Wales were left waiting for up to six months to have their planning permission for an eco-friendly heat pump approved, preventing them from saving money on heating bills.
Figures obtained by Aira revealed the average waiting time for planning permission is currently two months, with residents in boroughs such as Westminster, Walsall and Birmingham having to delay their heat pump installation for up to six months while council planning officials work through applications. The FOI data also found that council planning departments in Newport have experienced up to a 600% increase in applications for heat pumps to be installed in their local authority area, while Birmingham officials reported a 450% surge, demonstrating the growing demand for clean energy-tech solutions.
The government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028. In 2024, around 100,000 installations were completed, a record high for the nascent heat pump industry.
The growth of the industry has been helped by subsidy schemes for households looking to install a heat pump, including England and Wales £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme and, in Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland £7,500 grant and £7,500 interest free loan.
“Residential heat pumps have come a very long way since permitted development rights were last reviewed. By removing outdated planning policy barriers, the government will help the industry to focus resources on installing more heat pumps, creating thousands of new roles within the green skills workforce across the country,” said Daniel.
