Half of homes need heat pump by 2040

[nowty]

Hey Nowty .... just a thought, but are you measuring from a boundary wall/fence etc, or from 'the boundary'?

For example, if you are measuring from a wall that sits on the boundary, that's 100mm wide, then maybe, just maybe you are OK? [Edit - Or ask to buy a short strip of land, 20mm wide from your neighbour.]

Yes I'm being tongue-in-cheek, but worth a shot!

I think I measured it from the actual physical fence, I could even move it closer towards the wall but I don't want to impact the efficiency.

Its not an issue anyway as I asked the neighbour after about 6 months, after I fitted it and he'd never even heard it.
I still hear his gas boiler exhaust though.

[Adokforme]

Its not an issue anyway as I asked the neighbour after about 6 months, after I fitted it and he'd never even heard it.
I still hear his gas boiler exhaust though.

Our HP's are mounted on the external gable end above our bedroom, when starting up in the early hours we can just about hear them but in similar vein to above not as loud as the circulating pump on the GCH system they replaced. They've been up there for six years now above the garage, a couple of metres from the neighbouring boundary and no one has ever mentioned their existance let alone noise level.

[sharpener]

One of mine is about 2.7m from the boundary (in Wales), so questionable. The other is about <cough 0.3m cough> from the boundary, and in front of the house, but let's not talk about that one.

If you have more than one HP the deemed consent rules don't apply, you need to obtain full PP for the second one at least. That is the position in England anyway, not sure about Wales though.

Only the first installation of an air source heat pump would be permitted development, and only if there is no existing wind turbine on a building or within the curtilage of that property. Additional wind turbines or air source heat pumps at the same property requires an application for planning permission

[nowty]

One of mine is about 2.7m from the boundary (in Wales), so questionable. The other is about <cough 0.3m cough> from the boundary, and in front of the house, but let's not talk about that one.

If you have more than one HP the deemed consent rules don't apply, you need to obtain full PP for the second one at least. That is the position in England anyway, not sure about Wales though.

Only the first installation of an air source heat pump would be permitted development, and only if there is no existing wind turbine on a building or within the curtilage of that property. Additional wind turbines or air source heat pumps at the same property requires an application for planning permission

But that is one of the rules to be relaxed for detached houses.

[sharpener]

But that is one of the rules to be relaxed for detached houses.

Yes we keep hearing this rule and that rule are going to be relaxed but AIUI they have not yet done this and there is no timetable for doing it. So the extracts from the Planning Portal are the rules in force right now, and hence if you are planning a new installation they are the sensible thing to work to at present.

[Mart]

One of mine is about 2.7m from the boundary (in Wales), so questionable. The other is about <cough 0.3m cough> from the boundary, and in front of the house, but let's not talk about that one.

If you have more than one HP the deemed consent rules don't apply, you need to obtain full PP for the second one at least. That is the position in England anyway, not sure about Wales though.

Only the first installation of an air source heat pump would be permitted development, and only if there is no existing wind turbine on a building or within the curtilage of that property. Additional wind turbines or air source heat pumps at the same property requires an application for planning permission

Yep, you are spot on, that's why I don't talk about it!

Been about 4yrs*, the other at the back was probably 7(ish) yrs ago.

*Did it whilst new neighbours moved in, who made major changes. I suspected it was a developer situation, as the owner's father owned and ran a large building company. I was right, last year they moved on. My theory was that they wouldn't know the rules, and/or wouldn't want to rock the boat as they were pushing the limits of PP on some of their work.

No complaints ......... yet.


If anyone's interested, I did ring planning control and ask about the rules for fitting an A/C unit on the front of the house. They seemed relaxed asking if in my opinion it made a significant change to the appearance. But then I put my foot in it, mentioning that I wanted to use it mostly for heating, and the conversation changed totally, regarding HP's. So I politely thanked him for all his help and advice.

[nowty]

It seems that the anticipated rules are finally coming in tomorrow.

"New regulations are due to come into force tomorrow (29 May 2025) as part of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan."

Nowty Towers will be legal on the distance, having two ASHPs and having a cooling function.
Just not sure if its OK to have the ground source as a third one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e5plqke3no

https://www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps/wa ... gulations/

[Mart]

Great news nowty, I hope Wales follows suit as we currently have the 3m rule for PP.

[Yuff]

It seems that the anticipated rules are finally coming in tomorrow.

"New regulations are due to come into force tomorrow (29 May 2025) as part of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan."

Nowty Towers will be legal on the distance, having two ASHPs and having a cooling function.
Just not sure if its OK to have the ground source as a third one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e5plqke3no

https://www.acrjournal.uk/heat-pumps/wa ... gulations/

Oops, so our 2 Ashp’s have been illegal since installation and I changed the dip switch to allow cooling last year.
However, the 2 pumps are being replaced by a single pump next week but I’ve been told the engineer can’t turn the cooling function on as I won’t get the BUS grant, maybe that changes from today based on nowty’s info

[Ken]

The biggest problem as i see it is small bore pipes particularly if in concrete floors.

For most houses i see air/air HP as the ideal solution. Fraction of the capital cost and a fraction to run without the disruption and bigger rads. Also the climate is warming.

And the Gov will not support them because people might use them in summer for cooling when PV output is at its greatest/excess.