Do you need planning permission for an Air Source Heat Pump?
Basically, you do not need to apply for planning permission to install an Air Source Heat Pump in your home due to the ease at which these systems can be installed, however, there are some rules and regulations you must follow and we will cover them here. If you live in a listed property or conservation area you could find that there are some restrictions and if you are unsure contacting your local authority before starting installation would be a good idea just to make sure.
Usually, to see a significant saving, an Air Source Heat Pump is best suited to a property that does not have any access to mains gas or is using oil or LPG to heat their home but this is not always the case and that’s why these types of systems have now joined the likes of biomass boilers and thermal panels as Permitted Developments in the UK providing certain requirements are met. Because Greener Living is an MCS registered installer all our installations comply with Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (MCS 020) and we make it our responsibility to ensure that your Heat Pump installation is compliant with MCS standards.
We care about your property…
We want your new system to be part of your home and not an eyesore so we will work with your to be sure the Heat Pump is sited in a way that minimises its effect on the appearance of your home and the amenity of the area, this may well involve sitting the external unit at the back of the house in the garden, out of view from the road or even wall mounted it if this is the preferred option.
Back in 2011, if you lived in England then all Heat Pumps including air, ground and water were considered a permitted development which means no planning permission is required for your property, this was legislated in Parliament to make it easier for homeowners to install renewable technologies in their homes and help the UK to hopefully meet its target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.
An Air Source Heat Pump must be installed at least 1 metre from the property’s boundary and can’t protrude more than 1 metre from the outer wall, roof or chimney of the property but also for optimum performance the unit must have a clear 1 metre area around the front of the unit to allow for the correct airflow.
One thing to bear in mind is, if you are not using your Air Source Heat Pump for microgeneration, it must be removed as soon as practically possible by law, you can read more about the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards here but if you are unsure about any of the points contained in this article our friendly assessors and installers will be able to answer any and all questions you may have on the installation process and any rules and regulations we follow as a business to comply to all standards.
You can also check out our Air Source Heat Pump knowledge-base section here for any other questions you may be looking for answers on.
