Manufacturers welcome end to heat pump planning delays
Manufacturers have welcomed the government’s move to cut heat pump planning delays.
Manufacturers have welcomed the government's move to cut heat pump planning delays #UKhousingThe UK government has scrapped the requirement that households must obtain planning permission before installing a new heat pump, with the change taking effect on 29 May.
The average waiting time for planning permission is currently two months, with residents in Westminster, Walsall and Birmingham waiting for up to six months, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by heat pump manufacturer Aira.
The manufacturer also found that council planning departments in Newport experienced up to a 600% increase in applications for heat pumps, while Birmingham experienced a 450% surge, demonstrating a growing demand for green heating systems.
The government’s key changes 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; and doubling the number of air source heat pumps permitted, from one to two for detached dwelling houses.
Other changes include allowing cascade systems to benefit from the same rules as individual units, and 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.
The government said that heat pumps play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets, and ministers plan to install 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028.
In 2024, around 100,000 heat pumps were installed, supported by subsidy schemes for households 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.
Currently, there are 25 million boilers installed in households across the UK.
Daniel Sarefjord, chief executive of Aira UK, said: “By removing outdated planning policy barriers, the government will help the industry to focus resources on installing more heat pumps, creating thousands of new roles within the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”.
Related Content
House builder's triumph in Supreme Court over nutrient neutrality logjam
Preparing for lift-off: Passivhaus homes in Northern Ireland
- © Ocean Media Group