The Department for Infrastructure announced on 12 June 2023 that it has amended permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps in Northern Ireland1. The changes take effect from Tuesday 4 July 2023 and follow a public consultation held in late 20221.
The amendment is made through the Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023, which amends the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 by applying new permitted development rights for the installation of microgeneration equipment1. The consultation on the review of permitted development rights for the installation of domestic microgeneration equipment and reverse vending machines ran from 27 October 2022 to 23 December 20221.
Under the change, air source heat pumps no longer require planning permission, subject to certain conditions and limitations, provided they are at least 1 metre from the boundary of a neighbouring property and comply with the prescribed noise standard1. The Department said the relaxation would make it easier for energy consumers and providers to use renewable energy technologies such as air source heat pumps without planning permission, subject to those conditions and limitations1.
"Air source heat pumps will now no longer require planning permission, subject to certain conditions and limitations, as long as they are at least 1 metre from the boundary of a neighbouring property and comply with the prescribed noise standard."
The Department said planning plays a crucial role in facilitating the uptake of renewable and low carbon energy technologies, and that the amendments would help address climate change and protect the environment by encouraging low carbon heat technologies while keeping environmental and amenity impacts to a minimum1. It also said the change would help reduce the reliance of individual properties on fossil fuel heat and power sources and positively address issues such as energy decarbonisation and fuel poverty1.
The announcement covers air source heat pumps specifically. The Department's statement does not set out how the amended rights treat other microgeneration equipment, and no further detail on the conditions and limitations beyond the 1 metre boundary distance and the noise standard has been reported1.
Why it matters for households
Planning permission has been one of the practical steps standing between a household and a heat pump, and removing that step for air source units changes the sequence of an installation: the boundary distance and noise standard become the tests that decide whether a property qualifies, rather than a planning application. For a household weighing up a switch away from fossil fuel heating, that can shorten the path from decision to installation, and it applies to the siting of the unit rather than to the choice of technology. The conditions also mean the position of an outdoor unit on the property, and its distance from a neighbour's boundary, carry more weight than they would for equipment installed under a full application. Households in Northern Ireland considering air source heat pumps can check the position against the permitted development rights framework and the Northern Ireland-specific heat pump planning permission guidance. The wider question of what a heat pump means for a home's exposure to fuel prices is set out in heat pumps and household energy independence.
What happens next
The amended rights come into effect on Tuesday 4 July 20231. The Regulations and Explanatory Memorandum are published at legislation.gov.uk, and the consultation response is published by the Department1.
Sources1 cited
- Changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps | Department for Infrastructure, infrastructure-ni.gov.uk