Heat Pump Pricing versus current costs

FreeBear

wrf12345 said:

"Permitted development* only applies to a single outdoor unit being used for heating. If you use the unit for cooling, or install more than one, planning permission is required. With changes to legislation introduced last year, the council now have up to ten years to serve enforcement notices for planning & building regs breaches."

The ten year rule seems to apply to things done post April 2024 and does not apply to an existing single dwelling, as far as I can discern from a google search but I am often entirely wrong about these things. I was planning on installing the "outside" unit in my lean-to area on the south face of the residence, having both a plastic roof and lots of windows it does collect heat despite being vented to the outside by an intentional large gap left on the bottom of the door. So possibly classed as an internal installation and thus dodging this particular bullet if air-air. BTW because of the lean-to the house does not collect heat unless I open all the windows and doors in the summer so I would never need air-conditioning.

From the horses mouth - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement

What are the time limits for taking enforcement action?

The time limits for taking enforcement action are set out in section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (see also The Planning Act 2008 (Commencement No. 8) and Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 for transitional arrangements).

In most cases, development becomes immune from enforcement if no action is taken:

• within 10 years of substantial completion for a breach of planning control consisting of operational development where substantial completion took place on or after 25 April 2024
• within 10 years for an unauthorised change of use to a single dwellinghouse where the change of use took place on or after 25 April 2024
• within 4 years of substantial completion for a breach of planning control consisting of operational development where substantial completion took place before 25 April 2024;
• within 4 years for an unauthorised change of use to a single dwellinghouse where the change of use took place before 25 April 2024
• within 10 years for any other breach of planning control (essentially other changes of use)

So the new rules apply to any work covered by planning rules or building regulations. Under certain circumstances, the 10 year rule can be put aside. e.g. in cases where there has been a deliberate attempt to conceal the work. Putting an ASHP in a draughty outbuilding could be determined to be concealment..

Reed_Richards

I take your points completely, @matt_drummer but a naïve consumer looking to install an air conditioning unit could very easily be misled by the very large number of websites that say it can be a permitted development.  You and I know an air conditioner is a heat pump.  The people who install them know that an air conditioner is a heat pump.  But I bet that not all the people that buy one to cool their house in summer know.  

matt_drummer

Reed_Richards said:

I take your points completely, @matt_drummer but a naïve consumer looking to install an air conditioning unit could very easily be misled by the very large number of websites that say it can be a permitted development.  You and I know an air conditioner is a heat pump.  The people who install them know that an air conditioner is a heat pump.  But I bet that not all the people that buy one to cool their house in summer know.  

I guess not and I am pretty sure most people don't even think about it or care very much.

wrf12345

It seems that the fine is determined by the High Court if the council can't make an informal agreement so it seems unlikely they would go through the hassle of proving a heat pump has been used for cooling if they ever bothered to work out that the external unit was not water to water, if you have every side of the house splattered with air-conditioners it would probably be a different matter.

wrf12345

And, https://www.midlandaircon.co.uk/air-conditioning-installation/do-you-need-planning-permission-for-air-conditioning-installation/#:~:text=Generally, a standard small unit,Fitted on a pitched roof.

matt_drummer

wrf12345 said:

And, https://www.midlandaircon.co.uk/air-conditioning-installation/do-you-need-planning-permission-for-air-conditioning-installation/#:~:text=Generally, a standard small unit,Fitted on a pitched roof.

That's great, thank you.

Next time anybody has trouble with their local authority all they need to do is send the council official to Midland Air Conditioning for confirmation that they don't need planning permission for their air conditioning.

I'm not sure why anybody would ever look at the Planning Portal or their local authority's website when it's so obvious that you should be talking to Midland Air Conditioning!

matt_drummer

wrf12345 said:

It seems that the fine is determined by the High Court if the council can't make an informal agreement so it seems unlikely they would go through the hassle of proving a heat pump has been used for cooling if they ever bothered to work out that the external unit was not water to water, if you have every side of the house splattered with air-conditioners it would probably be a different matter.

The council won't come looking for you particularly unless you make it obvious. The danger is that you upset a neighbour in some way who then complains to the council.