The 1m boundary planning rule for ASHPs scrapped from 29/05/2025 in England and Wales

The_Green_Hornet

Martyn1981 said:

Hi NedS, can I just check this does also cover Wales? I'm hoping to see such a change, but I think our current rule is 3m from a boundary, which for folk like me with a 7m wide property, makes it near impossible (as PD).

[Then again, given I've got 2 A2A units, and one is on the front of the house, and almost next to the boundary, I will keep fingers crossed. But would love to be able to recommend them to friends and neighbours, without them having to be 'naughty'.]

The new legislation is for England only.

zxzxzx

NedS said:

Alnat1 said:

Do you still need planning for more than 1 heat pump? It was previously mentioned that this might change.

Two are now permitted for detached dwellings. Not permitted if:

(i)more than one air source heat pump on, or within the curtilage of—

(aa)a dwellinghouse which is not a detached dwellinghouse;

(bb)a block of flats;

(ii)more than two air source heat pumps on, or within the curtilage of, a detached dwellinghouse;”;

@neds. 

Can you help me understand why the rules make it ok for 2 hp allowed if detached, but not semi-detached? I can see a logic for limiting in terrace/flats etc.

Or is it just ‘that’s the way it is’?

Thanks.

NedS

The_Green_Hornet said:

Martyn1981 said:

Hi NedS, can I just check this does also cover Wales? I'm hoping to see such a change, but I think our current rule is 3m from a boundary, which for folk like me with a 7m wide property, makes it near impossible (as PD).

[Then again, given I've got 2 A2A units, and one is on the front of the house, and almost next to the boundary, I will keep fingers crossed. But would love to be able to recommend them to friends and neighbours, without them having to be 'naughty'.]

The new legislation is for England only.

@Martyn1981

It applies to Wales too. See Article 1:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/article/1/made

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025.

(2) This Order comes into force on 29th May 2025.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(4) In this Order, “the GPDO” means the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015(1). 

NedS

zxzxzx said:

NedS said:

Alnat1 said:

Do you still need planning for more than 1 heat pump? It was previously mentioned that this might change.

Two are now permitted for detached dwellings. Not permitted if:

(i)more than one air source heat pump on, or within the curtilage of—

(aa)a dwellinghouse which is not a detached dwellinghouse;

(bb)a block of flats;

(ii)more than two air source heat pumps on, or within the curtilage of, a detached dwellinghouse;”;

@neds. 

Can you help me understand why the rules make it ok for 2 hp allowed if detached, but not semi-detached? I can see a logic for limiting in terrace/flats etc.

Or is it just ‘that’s the way it is’?

Thanks.

That's just the way it is / what the law says.

I can only guess that the intention to allow for two heat pumps is envisaged for much larger properties which are far more likely to be detached. A single domestic heat pump can be up to 16kW (largest I'm aware of), and I'd be surprised if there were a large number of semi-detached properties with heat loss more than 16kW.

If your semi has a heat loss greater than 16kW, more insulation maybe the first port of call.

I'm guessing there is nothing to stop owners of very large semi's/flats applying for planning permission for two or more heat pumps if required, just they are not allowed under permitted development.

Martyn1981

NedS said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Martyn1981 said:

Hi NedS, can I just check this does also cover Wales? I'm hoping to see such a change, but I think our current rule is 3m from a boundary, which for folk like me with a 7m wide property, makes it near impossible (as PD).

[Then again, given I've got 2 A2A units, and one is on the front of the house, and almost next to the boundary, I will keep fingers crossed. But would love to be able to recommend them to friends and neighbours, without them having to be 'naughty'.]

The new legislation is for England only.

@Martyn1981

It applies to Wales too. See Article 1:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/article/1/made

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025.

(2) This Order comes into force on 29th May 2025.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(4) In this Order, “the GPDO” means the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015(1). 

Thanks NedS, I have to admit to missing that line completely when I was reading (poorly).

That's quite a shocker given we had a 3m rule. I do hope this helps many now.

zxzxzx

NedS said:

zxzxzx said:

NedS said:

Alnat1 said:

Do you still need planning for more than 1 heat pump? It was previously mentioned that this might change.

Two are now permitted for detached dwellings. Not permitted if:

(i)more than one air source heat pump on, or within the curtilage of—

(aa)a dwellinghouse which is not a detached dwellinghouse;

(bb)a block of flats;

(ii)more than two air source heat pumps on, or within the curtilage of, a detached dwellinghouse;”;

@neds. 

Can you help me understand why the rules make it ok for 2 hp allowed if detached, but not semi-detached? I can see a logic for limiting in terrace/flats etc.

Or is it just ‘that’s the way it is’?

Thanks.

That's just the way it is / what the law says.

I can only guess that the intention to allow for two heat pumps is envisaged for much larger properties which are far more likely to be detached. A single domestic heat pump can be up to 16kW (largest I'm aware of), and I'd be surprised if there were a large number of semi-detached properties with heat loss more than 16kW.

If your semi has a heat loss greater than 16kW, more insulation maybe the first port of call.

I'm guessing there is nothing to stop owners of very large semi's/flats applying for planning permission for two or more heat pumps if required, just they are not allowed under permitted development.

Thanks for your response!
Agree with your heat loss argument, although it does not apply here, I have an A2A and Calor combi atm in a rural semi and was considering a second then using existing system (only a couple of years old) for water heating plus back up house central heating if necessary in the depths of winter substantially reducing gas burning.
Oh well, it is what it is. 

matelodave

There's nothing to stop you applying for planning permission for a second unit.

AFAIK the regulations say that one unit is covered under "permitted" development which means you shouldn't normally need planning permission providing that you adhere to the rules. Anything else would need planning consent.

The alternative is to exchange your existing unit for a multi-split system which has a single outside unit and can serve multiple indoor units (I've seen up to nine)

NedS

Martyn1981 said:

NedS said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Martyn1981 said:

Hi NedS, can I just check this does also cover Wales? I'm hoping to see such a change, but I think our current rule is 3m from a boundary, which for folk like me with a 7m wide property, makes it near impossible (as PD).

[Then again, given I've got 2 A2A units, and one is on the front of the house, and almost next to the boundary, I will keep fingers crossed. But would love to be able to recommend them to friends and neighbours, without them having to be 'naughty'.]

The new legislation is for England only.

@Martyn1981

It applies to Wales too. See Article 1:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/article/1/made

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025.

(2) This Order comes into force on 29th May 2025.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(4) In this Order, “the GPDO” means the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015(1). 

Thanks NedS, I have to admit to missing that line completely when I was reading (poorly).

That's quite a shocker given we had a 3m rule. I do hope this helps many now.

Yes, I remember.

Do you know where the 3m rule is/was written into Welsh legislation? Presumably there are/were some Welsh devolved planning regs that added it to the 1m Permitted Development rules in England?

Martyn1981

NedS said:

Martyn1981 said:

NedS said:

The_Green_Hornet said:

Martyn1981 said:

Hi NedS, can I just check this does also cover Wales? I'm hoping to see such a change, but I think our current rule is 3m from a boundary, which for folk like me with a 7m wide property, makes it near impossible (as PD).

[Then again, given I've got 2 A2A units, and one is on the front of the house, and almost next to the boundary, I will keep fingers crossed. But would love to be able to recommend them to friends and neighbours, without them having to be 'naughty'.]

The new legislation is for England only.

@Martyn1981

It applies to Wales too. See Article 1:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/560/article/1/made

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025.

(2) This Order comes into force on 29th May 2025.

(3) This Order extends to England and Wales.

(4) In this Order, “the GPDO” means the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015(1). 

Thanks NedS, I have to admit to missing that line completely when I was reading (poorly).

That's quite a shocker given we had a 3m rule. I do hope this helps many now.

Yes, I remember.

Do you know where the 3m rule is/was written into Welsh legislation? Presumably there are/were some Welsh devolved planning regs that added it to the 1m Permitted Development rules in England?

Sorry, no I just recall being told it years ago when chatting with a guy about a potential ASHP install, and I'd been working on the assumption of 1m and PD, when he told me the 3m rule.

Fingers crossed nobody will care about my 2 A2A units, as they, plus a battery install*, got me through the winter fine, with no need to use the GCH, so that's coming out soon, and a HW tank installed. Should be able to cancel my gas supply this year. Gotta love HP's.

*Edit - Sorry, I meant got me through nice and warm, but without the need to buy any dayrate leccy.