Free planning advice is available for residents if you are considering air source heat pumps or other energy efficiency measures via our Duty Planning Service
Illustration of a cross-section of a house showing the air-source heat pump unit beside the house, blue and yellow arrows showing incoming air into the heat pump and red arrows showing warm air entering the house for the purpose of heating.
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are a form of low-carbon heating and an alternative to gas boilers.
They operate by absorbing heat from outside air to provide heating.
Air source heat pumps work at lower temperatures that gas boilers. This means they work most efficient in buildings that are:
- well insulated and draught proofed
- have either underfloor or warm air heating.
Planning permission
ASHPs do not normally require planning permission, except where:
- volume of ASHP unit (including housing) exceeds 0.6 cubic metres
- there is an existing ASHP on a building or within the curtilage
- it is within 1m of the boundary
- on pitched roofs
- less than 1m from the edge of a flat roof
- on a listed building
- in a conservation area:
o on a wall or roof which fronts a highway; or
o be nearer to any highway which adjoins the property than any part of the building - not within a conservation area:
o on a wall which fronts a highway; and any part of that wall is above the level of the ground storey - in all cases, if the ASHP does not meet the Government's Microgeneration Certification Scheme Planning Standards (MCS 020) or equivalent standards.
Note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the ASHP meets the MCS 020. You may need to engage a consultant to obtain certification. Read more about the MCS 020 scheme.
If planning permission is required you will need to submit an application, this should include details of:
- location, design and appearance
- noise and vibration
- efficiency of the unit.
Note: ASHP are best sited at the rear and away from neighbouring properties as far as practicable.