@desexeter

Hi, so if it's 80cm from my boundary, the developer has broken the rule and should be prepared to re-site it?

@desexeter, thanks for the clarification - given that there are tens of thousands of these installed each year, it's crazy that there are no published guidelines anywhere (or do they just vary from council to council?)

Posted by: @desexeter

**EXCEPTION** Listed building and/or conservation area. In that case planning permission IS required and conservation officer can be very directive about what's allowed. Even if the council has declared a climate emergency! Not that I'm bitter 🤣 

@desexeter, are you sure that is correct?  Do you have a link?  As far as I understood it, ASHPs that fulfil certain criteria fall under Permitted Development (PD).  And all PD is allowed by default in a Conservation Area unless there are any relevant Article 4 directions or you are a listed bulding, in which cases planning permission would be needed.  If I'm wrong I might be in trouble ...  

I live in a conservation area and have been informed that I can have a ASHP installed without PP so long as I meet these guidelines here.

PLANNINGPORTAL.CO.UK "https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/27/heat_pumps/2"

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

Details of the planning permission and building regulation regimes for Heat Pumps in England

@kev-m I agree that a Certificate of Lawfulness is a starting point - perhaps a finishing one too. I found the following link useful for drawing site and location maps. These were inexpensive and I finished them off by hand myself. So nothing fancy. 

UKPLANNINGMAPS.COM "https://www.ukplanningmaps.com/"

UK Planning Maps Ordnance Survey Plans

Ordnance Survey Maps for Planning Applications. Cheapest online, available instantly, from government accredited supplier.

@editor and others - thank you for interesting commentary on planning permission. Completely agree that there's a huge tension between encouraging the public to invest in ASHPs and support the green economy and the lack of clear and helpful guidance around planning, coupled with the woeful response from (at least) our Local Authority in Scotland.

Hi JennyRoss - I can't comment on planning in Scotland but my advice would be to persevere. I've finally got my planning application approved but apparently I can be made to change the installation at a later date if the neighbours complain to the Environment Health department about the noise levels, even though in theory they should be well within the government guidelines.  Throughout the process the planning department never provided any reasoning behind their concerns and whilst the installer provided guidance and help throughout the process it was ultimately up to me to respond to the planning department concerns.

Good luck with your application,

Tony

@chaplito, I’m curious. Does EH have a noise and range limit?

@jennyross, that sounds crazily complicated, and I’d definitely let the installers figure this all out because that is in part what they’re paid for. Please keep us updated.

@chaplito thank you. I’m not giving up

yet. Partly because I can’t face another winter like the one we’ve just had. 

@editor definitely will 😊 

@jennyross, Interesting that it's different in Scotland.  My ASHP would not have been allowed in Scotland but is in England.  In a conservation area in England it can't 'front the highway'; in Scotland it specifically needs to be on the rear elevation. Mine is on the side although it's completely invisible from the road.  

In terms of 'fronting a road', is there a definition of 'road' anywhere that might preclude a private, unadopted road (if that's what it is)?  A lot of houses would have their side elevations facing next door's driveway; surely that doesn't count as fronting a road?

You could also search your local authority's planning portal (or others in Scotland) to see if there are any other ASHPs that have had to have permission.

Good luck anyway and keep us all updated.  Planning can be very frustrating.