Air conditioning in Epsom homes is an environmentally friendly solution for anyone looking to upgrade the way they cool and heat their home. But do you need planning permission before you install a heat pump?
The short answer is that air conditioning units and heat pumps usually fall under permitted development. This means that most homeowners don’t need to apply for planning permission. However, there are a few exceptions and it’s important to be mindful of them before you book your installation.
Why do heat pumps count as permitted development?
Air source heat pumps are exceptionally energy efficient. For every unit of energy they use, they produce four units of heat or cooling. For comparison, gas boilers and electric heaters both use more energy than they produce to heat your home.
For this reason, heat pumps are a great way to lower a home’s carbon footprint, so central and local government are both keen to encourage homeowners to install them. Central government has already pledged not to charge VAT on energy efficient home solutions like solar panels and heat pumps. And at a local level, planning departments are trying to remove any red tape around sustainable solutions so that homeowners can make a good choice. Putting heat pumps under permitted development makes installation easier for residents and the local authority alike.
What planning regulations are there for heat pumps?
As we said above, there are exceptions to the permitted development. You will need planning permission if your air conditioning unit will be:
Bigger than 0.6m³ (most are considerably smaller than this!)
Less than a metre away from your property boundary
Within a metre of the edge of a flat roof
Installed on a pitched roof
Added to a property that already has a wind turbine installed
You should also take into account your local area. If you live in a conservation area or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (e.g. the Surrey Hills), it’s a good idea to check with your local planning department before you book your installation, to be sure that you don’t need to apply for planning permission.
Air conditioning in Epsom
If it’s time to upgrade the way you heat your home, we hope you’ll consider a heat pump. Not only does it warm your home in winter, but it also provides an efficient cooling system when high summer temperatures come along.
Air conditioning in Epsom homes means a warm living space in winter and a pleasantly cool environment in summer, improving your quality of life and lowering your carbon footprint.
Explore our site to find out more, or contact us today on 01483 570 120.