The permitted development right of Class G allows you to install, alter or replace an air source heat pump on a residential property. This is subject to a number of limits and conditions.
Please note: ‘permitted development’ rights may be removed through a planning condition, Article 4 Direction or other restriction.
Limits and Conditions
- The air source heat pump can be on a house, bungalow or a block of flats.
- You are permitted to install it either on the property itself or within the curtilage.
- You are limited to one air source heat pump on any building or within the curtilage.
- You can’t install an air source heat pump if you already have a wind turbine.
- The pump itself (including housing) is limited to 0.6 cubic metres.
- The pump must not be within 1 metre of the curtilage of the property.
- It must also not be on a pitched roof or within 1 metre of the edge of a flat roof but it can be on a flat roof.
- You can’t install an air source heat pump in a listed building or scheduled monument without planning permission.
- If you are in a conservation area or on a World Heritage Site you can’t install it on an elevation that fronts a highway. You are allowed to install it on the front wall of a property, which is not in a conservation area or on a World Heritage Site but it must be on the ground floor storey and not above.
Additionally the following conditions must be met:
The air source heat pump must be:
- Used solely for heating purposes
- Removed as soon as reasonably practicable when it is no longer needed for microgeneration
- Sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and its effect on the amenity of the area.
Further Information
Property Designations
Is your home in a Conservation Area? Is it subject to an Article 4 Direction? Is it a Listed Building? These considerations may impact whether development to your property requires planning permission or not. An interactive map showing conservation areas, listed buildings and article 4's can be found here:
Cornwall Council Interactive Map
If you are uncertain please use our do I need service.
Noise
In addition, as air source heat pumps can be noisy. You must comply with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent in order to be permitted development.