Govt loosens heat pump rules
The government has removed the requirement for households to apply for planning permission to fit an air source heat pump and put more money behind the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
As part of its Warm Homes Plan, the rule requiring heat pumps to be sited at least 1 meter from the property boundary been removed, which it says has been a major cause of drop-outs by households who ordered a heat pump.
Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, says: “The changes to Permitted Development Rights are a welcome move that will support the deployment of heat pumps. We have worked to coordinate the industry’s responses and support with updates to tools and our standards, such as the MCS Planning Standard for Permitted Development Installations of Air Source Heat Pumps (MCS 020), to facilitate these changes.”
Meanwhile, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, under which homes in England and Wales can get £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump, will get an extra £30 million this year. The budget will be almost doubled in 2025/26 to £295 million.
The government is also to consult on plans to increase energy efficiency standards for new boilers and heat pumps.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “The idea at the heart of our Warm Homes Plan is a simple one: all families deserve the security of a home they can afford to heat.
“But for too long, that has been out of reach for far too many people who have been left with draughty homes and sky-high bills. That is why we are taking immediate action to make cleaner heating available to more households.
“This follows our plan to lift over 1 million households out of fuel poverty by consulting on boosting minimum energy efficiency standards for all renters by 2030, delivering warmer homes and cheaper bills.”
