Planning Rules Relaxed: Big Boost for Heat Pump Installation Across England

Liam Walsh
May 29, 2025
3 min read

The UK government has taken a major step to speed up the transition to low-carbon heating by removing one of the biggest barriers to heat pump installation — outdated planning rules.

Until now, homeowners needed planning permission to install a heat pump within one metre of a neighbour’s boundary. This restriction has now been lifted across England, meaning faster, simpler installations for all kinds of properties — including terraced, semi-detached and detached homes.

The change is part of the Warm Homes Plan, a national effort to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and make clean heating more accessible to more people.

✅ What’s Changed?

The one-metre rule is gone. Heat pumps can now be installed closer to neighbouring boundaries without planning permission (as long as noise limits are met).
Fewer delays. Homeowners no longer need to wait 8–10 weeks for council approval — especially helpful when replacing a broken boiler.
More flexibility. New rules relax limits on the number and size of heat pump units a household can install under permitted development rights.
Noise levels still matter. The system must comply with volume limits, but most modern units are designed to be quiet enough for compliance.

🏠 Who Benefits?

Terraced Homes

This change will have the biggest impact on the UK’s 5.7 million terraced homes. With limited outdoor space, many of these properties couldn’t install a heat pump without breaching the one-metre rule. That restriction has now been removed, unlocking thousands of previously unsuitable properties for low-carbon upgrades.

Semi-Detached and Detached Homes

Even homes with more space benefit:

More freedom in unit placement (e.g. closer to property boundaries, fences, or garages).
Easier installation of larger systems or multiple units, useful for bigger properties or homes with annexes.
Avoiding delays due to borderline planning constraints — especially in suburban areas or conservation-adjacent zones.

🚧 Remaining Challenges

While the planning rule change is a big step forward, there are still real-world challenges when it comes to adopting heat pump technology:

1. Upfront Costs

Installing a heat pump typically costs more than replacing a gas boiler. However, it's crucial to recognise that installing a heat pump involves numerous significant upgrades that enhance the heating system for the long term, making it a fundamentally different task than merely swapping out a boiler.

2. Renters and Leaseholders

The planning change doesn’t solve everything. Renters still need their landlord to agree to the upgrade, and leasehold permissions can be an additional hurdle.

3. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rules

At the moment, EPC ratings focus on energy cost, not carbon. Because gas is currently cheaper per unit than electricity, heat pumps can sometimes score worse on paper — even though they’re more efficient and lower-carbon in reality.

🧾 The Bigger Picture: Warm Homes Plan

This planning rule change is just one part of the Warm Homes Plan, which includes:

A goal to upgrade 300,000 homes for better energy efficiency.
New rules from 2030, requiring private landlords to improve their properties’ EPC ratings.
Government support for financing models like zero-upfront-cost heat pump subscriptions.

Social landlords are already starting to act. For example, at Sutton Dwellings in Chelsea, Clarion Housing Group recently installed a network of ground source heat pumps — funded partly by a government grant and partly by Clarion itself.

Early signs are positive: annual heating bills in the upgraded flats are forecast to drop to just £450–£500 per year.

💡 What's Next?

Industry groups and sustainability experts — including Nesta — are calling for a rethink on how energy is priced. One proposal is to shift green levies off electricity and onto gas to reflect the true environmental cost of each fuel. This could help make low-carbon heating even more affordable in the long term.

🏁 Final Thoughts

The removal of the one-metre planning rule is a welcome change that will unlock heat pump installations for thousands of homes that were previously ruled out. It’s a strong signal that the government is serious about helping more people move to cleaner, cheaper heating — without unnecessary red tape.

At Assembly Renewables, we’re ready to help homeowners make the most of these new rules. Whether you live in a terraced house, a detached property, or a flat with its own outdoor space, we’ll work with you to find the right solution for your home.

Thinking about switching to a heat pump? Our friendly team can guide you through every step — from survey to installation and aftercare.