5 days ago
The heat pump planning permission rule change that could affect millions, explained
A change to planning rules is set to make it easier for heat pumps to be installed in homes.
Previously, a key planning restriction meant heat pumps had to be 1 metre from a neighbour's property, but the government has changed the rule in a bid to encourage the take-up of the technology.
The change is part of the government's Warm Homes Plan, which aims to cut emissions but also lower household bills.
The Government has targeted a UK market for heat pumps delivering at least 600,000 installations per year by 2028, meaning the changes could affect millions of people over time.
Most homes currently use gas boilers and heating systems, but heat pumps run on electricity, taking in heat from the air or ground and amplifying it using a heat exchanger.
However, they are not cheap to install, and campaigners have warned that while changes to planning laws may encourage some homeowners to switch, it will not necessarily help people who rent, or those in leasehold properties - especially in older houses where a new system might also need new pipework or insulation.
Consumer groups warn that the biggest barrier to installing a heat pump remains the high upfront costs.
Heat pumps are seen as one of the key measures that could help reduce UK emissions and are a priority for the government.
Their importance to emission reduction was highlighted in a report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in February, in which it presented what it called a 'new pathway to a decarbonised UK', saying it would result in cheaper bills, energy security and more private sector investment.
In the plans, it said 14% of emissions reductions by 2040 could be achieved through residential buildings - thanks to new and replacement homes using low carbon heating installations - mainly heat pumps.
Heat pumps have also been touted as potentially saving cash for households, many of whom are facing prohibitively expensive energy bills.
Max Schwerdtfeger, from The Eco Experts, said the move could be "vital" to meeting government targets on heat pumps.
He told Yahoo News UK: "Removing the 1 metre rule is a brilliant and critical step from the government, and if it does reach its target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, we could look back and view it as a vital move.
"It means it is less likely that planning applications will be rejected and fewer consumers will drop out of the process of having one installed.
"Removing as many barriers to heat pump installation as possible is of the utmost importance because the window of opportunity for getting them installed is usually much smaller than other clean tech. Why? Because people tend to consider heat pumps when either their gas boiler has broken down or it is just nearing the end of its lifecycle.
"Either way, if someone needs a heat pump, they need it installed as quickly as possible, and taking any potential friction makes it much more likely they will do so. If they don't, that is a customer the industry has missed out on for a potential decade, or until they need another upgrade.
"Every opportunity to get people to upgrade to a heat pump must be taken. Figures suggest that as many as 34% are put off from installing a heat pump because of planning rules. This stat is far too high, and the government should be credited for trying to bring it down.
"It should seize this opportunity to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme further and facilitate financing options for consumers to install heat pumps."
The planning permission change comes after the government announced steps to encourage households to take up measures that would deliver 'cleaner' heating in November last year.
The steps - part of the ongoing rollout of the Warm Homes Plan - included the removal of the '1m rule', that meant households wanting to install an air source heat pump within a metre of a neighbour's property would need to submit a planning application.
The rule was blamed for a slow take-up of the technology, with Octopus Energy telling the Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Committee in 2023 that the rule was instrumental in putting people off having a heat pump, saying 27% of customers its customers had been requested to obtain planning permission.
It said many customers had decided against heat pumps when they become aware of the planning permission requirements and those who had tried to proceed ended up waiting an extra eight to 10 weeks on average, adding: "The combined impact of all these things mean that very few of the 27% of customers who require planning have made it to install."
Announcing its changes in November, the government said it would be: "allowing more households in England to install an air source heat pump without the need to submit a planning application from early next year, by removing the rule requiring them to be installed at least one metre from a property's boundary. This will provide greater flexibility, with rules still in place around listed buildings."
The take-up of heat pumps may be slower than targets, but is rising.
As of 2023, the total number of certified heat pumps installed across the UK surpassed 200,000, according to figures from the MCS Foundation, the UK's main certification scheme. It said 2023 saw a nearly 20% jump in certified heat pump installations compared to the previous year.
Earlier this year, data suggested the UK had seen its busiest ever start to the year for low-carbon heat pump installations, up by one quarter on the previous year. Data suggested that through January, 4,743 of the devices were installed under the MCS, which accounts for the vast majority of heat pumps across the country.
Meanwhile, 21% of the UK's new home market had a heat pump installed that month, up from 11% in January 2024, according to energy performance certificate (EPC) data.
And in April, government figures said heat pumps were continuing to grow in popularity with a record 4,028 applications received in March – up 88% on the same month last year.
A government document published in March 2024, called: 'Heat pumps explained: experts answer your questions', said homeowners could expect to pay £6,500 to £11,500 for a heat pump.
Within the document, Joanna O'Loan, Knowledge Manager at Energy Saving Trust, said: "Some installers are now offering highly competitive installation costs, so it's worth exploring your options. We'd recommend getting at least 3 installers to quote, so that you can compare costs and design."
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a grant system that helps with the cost of the installation of a heat pump. In recent weeks, the government announced a consultation that could see the scheme expanded to include more heat pump alternatives and third-party ownership models.
However, figures suggest that the real term average cost of heat pump installations is around the top end of the range quotes in the government document.
The argument for heat pumps is that they will save households money, with the government 'experts' document suggesting they could save a typical home £234 a year.
In the document, Jo Alsop, co-founder at Warmur, said: "Based on current energy prices, heat pumps can save a typical gas household around £234 per year when they opt for smart electricity tariffs and remove the gas meter. Actual savings can vary depending on how efficiently the heat pump operates.
"Modern, well optimised heat pumps perform well at higher temperatures, but households may wish to consider cost effective insulation and some radiator swaps to reduce running costs further."
