Heat pumps

matt_drummer

oliver1951 said:

They tell me I have to have planning permission because the Ashp is going at the front of the house and it faces a road. More than that I have to provide a heritage report + + . And no, I’m not in a conservation area, but am close. The issue on noise may explain why in BG’s adjusted sound level it comes out at 42db!

My heat pump is on the front of the house.

It is actually the preferred location of  the IOA and the CIEH but not the MCS. Have a look at their websites, they are fully in favour of a heat pump facing a road where possible.

IBC love my heat pump on the front of the house.

The front of the house does not require planning permission unless you have a listed building, are in a conservation area or have noise issues.

The front of the house is permitted development.

Are you sure you need planning permission?

I would assume that BG have followed the MCS noise test calculation.

Mine is much lower at the front of the house.

Even though I live close to the centre of Ipswich, my noise level is under 35 dB at all assessment points.

My Environmental Protection Officer loves me, it is his dream  as I will not be disturbing anyone!

He spent a weekend working on it in his own time.

As I said, the front of the house facing a road is permitted development unless you exceed first floor level.



Who told you that you needed planning permission?

oliver1951

The Bristol City planning department. I will look up those two you mention, don’t think I’ve come across them. Odd that MCS should be the dissenting voice. I’ll be honest Matt this whole planning thing has worn me down . Bristol proclaims itself a green city. I understand the need to ensure developments are properly done etc. But to require a full submission as if I’m doing a major development is just nuts. Moreover once I manage to give them a proposal that they’ll consider fit to consider, current time to get a decision is between 6-9 months! 

oliver1951

… and it is on the ground. 

matt_drummer

Planning permission for heat pumps has not really been considered in the governments drive for cleaner air.

Most people don't contact their council about installing heat pumps, you don't need to unless the installation is not going to be permitted development.

I still don't know why you have contacted the council in the first place and what makes you think your installation is not permitted development.

One heat pump that is only used for heating, installed on the front of a property at or below first floor level is permitted development as long as all the other rules are complied with.

Planning permission is not required just because it is on the front of the house.

oliver1951

That’s not what they say. Understand you are having difficulty with that, so am I. But there is at least one case I found where someone put in an Ashp without pp and has now been ordered to remove it. As to the reason why I contacted the council, because BG told me I may need planning permission and to check with the council. So I did. 

Reed_Richards

This is what Westminster City Council say with regards to Planning Permission:
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-and-environmental-regulations/planning-and-climate-emergency/energy-efficiency-guidance-householders/heat-pumps#:~:text=You only need to apply,1m of the property boundary

shinytop

oliver1951 said:

That’s not what they say. Understand you are having difficulty with that, so am I. But there is at least one case I found where someone put in an Ashp without pp and has now been ordered to remove it. As to the reason why I contacted the council, because BG told me I may need planning permission and to check with the council. So I did. 

I'm assuming you are not in Scotland because the rules there are different.  If you are in England, one rule they could be using to object is this one

"The ASHP must be sited, as far as is practicable, to minimise its 

effect on the external appearance of the building and its effect 

on the amenity of the area."

But there would have to be a practical alternative to the front of the building. The trouble is, unlike the size and distance rules, this one is subjective. 

matt_drummer

Planning Permission: Air source heat pump - Heat pumps - Planning Portal

It says

On land that is not within a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site, the air source heat pump must not be installed on any part of a wall above the level of the ground floor storey if that wall fronts a highway


The front of the house facing a highway is permitted development.


As long as you don't breach any of the other conditions like noise at an assessment point planning permission is not required.


I have been through this with Ipswich Borough Council. They carried out the relevant noise assessments and have confirmed that the front of my house facing the highway is permitted development and I don't need planning permission.

I will find my email from them confirming it.


Octopus would not be fitting the heat pump now if planning permission was required.

matt_drummer

Dear Mr ******* – I have set out below what is Permitted Development, i.e. planning permission is not required from the local planning authority.

 

G. The installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration air source heat pump—

 

(a) on a dwellinghouse or a block of flats; or

(b) within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats, including on a building

within that curtilage.

 

Development not permitted

 

G.1 Development is not permitted by Class G unless the air source heat pump complies with the

MCS Planning Standards or equivalent standards.

 

G.2 Development is not permitted by Class G if—

 

(a) in the case of the installation of an air source heat pump, the development would result in

the presence of more than 1 air source heat pump on the same building or within the

curtilage of the building or block of flats; assume not

(b) in the case of the installation of an air source heat pump, a wind turbine is installed on the

same building or within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats; assume not

(c) in the case of the installation of an air source heat pump, a stand-alone wind turbine is

installed within the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats; assume not

(d) the volume of the air source heat pump’s outdoor compressor unit (including any

housing) would exceed 0.6 cubic metres; Please confirm

(e) any part of the air source heat pump would be installed within 1 metre of the boundary of

the curtilage of the dwellinghouse or block of flats; doesn’t appear to be where sited on the frontage

(f) the air source heat pump would be installed on a pitched roof; no

(g) the air source heat pump would be installed on a flat roof where it would be within 1

metre of the external edge of that roof; no

(h) the air source heat pump would be installed on a site designated as a scheduled

monument; no

(i) the air source heat pump would be installed on a building or on land within the curtilage

of the dwellinghouse or the block of flats if the dwellinghouse or the block of flats is a

listed building; no

(j) in the case of land within a conservation area or which is a World Heritage Site the air

source heat pump—

(i) would be installed on a wall or a roof which fronts a highway; or

(ii) would be installed so that it is nearer to any highway which bounds the curtilage than

the part of the dwellinghouse or block of flats which is nearest to that highway; or

(k) in the case of land, other than land within a conservation area or which is a World

Heritage Site, the air source heat pump would be installed on a wall of a dwellinghouse or

block of flats if—

(i) that wall fronts a highway; and

(ii) the air source heat pump would be installed on any part of that wall which is above

the level of the ground floor storey. Not con area or WHS

 

Conditions

 

G.3 Development is permitted by Class G subject to the following conditions—

(a) the air source heat pump is used solely for heating purposes;

(b) the air source heat pump is, so far as practicable, sited so as to minimise its effect on the

external appearance of the building;

(c) the air source heat pump is, so far as practicable, sited so as to minimise its effect on the

amenity of the area; and

(d) the air source heat pump is removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer

needed.

 

Providing the volume of the air source heat pump’s outdoor compressor unit (including any

housing) does not exceed 0.6 cubic metres, planning permission would not be required and the ASHP could be sited on the frontage without planning permission.

 

Regards .

 

R****** C******

Development Management Team Leader

Planning and Development

Ipswich Borough Council

matt_drummer

Hello,

The volume of the air source heat pump is less than 0.60 cubic metres.

Therefore it is permitted development and I do not need planning permission.

Please withdraw my application number 23/00284/FUL

Regards,

M******* G******