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.
There are 25 million boilers installed in households across the UK and the previous planning permission restrictions prevented people from moving to cleaner, greener and more affordable heating solutions. Based on the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, it appeared that thousands of households in England and Wales were left waiting for up to 6 months to have their planning permission for an eco-friendly heat pump approved, which means they are prevented from saving money on heating bills.
Figures obtained by Aira revealed the average waiting time for planning permission is currently 2 months, with residents in boroughs such as Westminster, Walsall and Birmingham having to delay their heat pump installation for up to 6 months while council planning officials work through their applications. The FOI data also found that council planning departments in Newport have experienced up to a 600% increase in applications for heat pumps to be installed in their local authority area, while Birmingham officials reported a 450% surge, demonstrating the growing demand for clean energy-tech solutions.
The government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028. In 2024, around 100,000 installations were completed, a record high for the nascent heat pump industry. The industry's growth has been helped by subsidy schemes for households looking to install a heat pump, including the England and Wales £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme and, in Scotland, the Home Energy Scotland £7,500 grant and £7,500 interest-free loan. Daniel Sarefjord, Aira UK CEO said: 'Today, up to half of all gas boiler installations are distressed purchases - consumers buying a new boiler to replace an old one that has broken down. These people won’t wait two to six months for planning permission because you can’t live without heating and hot water for that long. This absurd policy affected up to 40% of our customers, that’s why we have campaigned for years to reform permitted development rights and make it easier for homeowners to replace their fossil fuelled gas or oil boiler with an eco-friendly heat pump.
“Residential heat pumps have come a very long way since permitted development rights were last reviewed. 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.”