The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said on 30 November 2023 that it will consult on introducing new permitted development rights to end the blanket restriction on heat pumps one metre from a property boundary in England1. The announcement was made in the Autumn Statement the previous week, and follows an independent review of air source heat pump noise1.
New figures published the same day show applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme reached 1,150 in the first week after the grant uplift, more than three times the average weekly rate before the change1. In the three weeks that followed, applications remained nearly 60 per cent higher than the previous weekly average1. The grant rose by 50 per cent to £7,500, and the scheme is available in England and Wales1. Weekly application figures cover the period from the start of the scheme on 23 May 2022 to the week ending 13 November 2023; separate delivery statistics run to 31 October1.
The noise review concluded that heat pumps are now very quiet, with sound levels similar to a gas boiler or fridge, and that complaints from neighbours are rare1. It recommends changing planning rules so more households can install heat pumps under permitted development rights, while strengthening the noise assessments installers carry out1. The research was conducted by the engineering consultancy WSP, the construction engineering company BSRIA, the University of Salford and Stephen Turner Acoustics1.
The government also confirmed plans for a new Clean Heat Market Mechanism, launching next year, which it says will incentivise the heating industry to invest in making heat pumps more attractive and affordable1.
"it will consult on introducing new permitted development rights to end the blanket restriction on heat pumps one metre from a property boundary in England"
Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a householder agrees a quote with an MCS certified installer, who completes the paperwork; Ofgem then contacts the customer to confirm they wish to proceed1. The government has not reported the date of the consultation, its duration, or the draft wording of any new right.
Why it matters for households
The one metre boundary rule is one of the constraints that pushes some heat pump installations into full planning permission, which adds cost, time and uncertainty. A home close to a neighbour's wall or a narrow side return is the typical case. Removing the blanket restriction would move those installations back into permitted development rights, though the government has not said what conditions would replace it, and noise assessments by installers would be strengthened rather than dropped1. Where a council has used an Article 4 direction to withdraw permitted development, the position would still depend on local rules.
For a household weighing up a heat pump, the grant level is the figure that moves fastest. At £7,500 the scheme is described as one of the most generous of its kind in Europe1, and the application data shows the effect of that change on demand. The practical questions of what an installation costs after the grant, and how noisy a heat pump is compared with a gas boiler, are covered in the site's guides.
What happens next
The consultation on permitted development rights for heat pumps in England is to follow the Autumn Statement announcement; no date has been reported1. The Clean Heat Market Mechanism is due to launch next year1.