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.
Katrina Young, Practice Manager – Heat Policy at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “We welcome the updates to permitted development rights for air source heat pumps. Through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero-funded Electrification of Heat demonstration project, we found that people were being prevented from getting a heat pump for relatively arbitrary reasons, such as the one metre boundary rule. By removing this and moving to more outcome-based planning requirements such as noise levels, households can have a smoother journey to upgrade their heating system whilst minimising the impacts on their neighbourhoods. We look forward to seeing further progress on key enabling policies in the Warm Homes Plan.”
With regards to the one metre rule, most of the heat pumps installed through this project did not require planning permission. However, for 5% of properties, although there was space for the outdoor unit, it would have been too close to a neighbouring property to meet the ‘permitted development’ noise criteria.
Once installed, 85% of participants were willing to recommend a heat pump to a friend or family member.
