Heat pumps include ground source, water source and air source.
Ground source and water source heat pumps.
Under the Permitted Development rules, you’re allowed to install/replace/alter both the above types of heat pump within the curtilage of a house or block of flats.
Air source heat pumps
The rules for air source heat pumps are slightly more complex. You’re permitted to install, alter, or replace an air source heat pump on a residential property. This can be a house, bungalow, or a block of flats. You are permitted to install it either on the property itself or within the curtilage subject to the following limitations:
- You are limited to one air source heat pump on any building or within the curtilage.
- The outdoor compressor unit is limited to 0.6 cubic metres.
- You’ll need planning permission if you want to install an air source heat pump in a listed building (including the curtilage) or scheduled monument.
- If you are in a conservation area or on a World Heritage Site you can’t install it on an elevation that fronts a highway, or in the curtilage between the building and the highway.
- You are allowed to install it on the front wall of a property, which is not in a conservation area or on a World Heritage Site, but it must be on the ground floor storey and not above.
- It is only permitted development if there are no other heat pumps or wind turbines on or within the curtilage of the property.
- No part of the heat pump can be within 1m of the boundary.
- If it’s installed on a flat roof, then it must be set back at least 1m from the edge of the roof; it cannot be installed on a pitched roof.
- The pump must be used solely for heating purposes, removed as soon as practicable should it no longer be required, and located to minimise its impact upon the appearance of the building and amenity of the area.