The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government opened a consultation on 13 February 2024 on proposed changes to permitted development rights in England1. The consultation covers householder development, building upwards, demolition and rebuild, electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps1. It proposes changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended1. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 9 April 20241.
On householder development, the consultation proposes changes which will enable householders to build larger extensions and provide further freedoms to construct outbuildings2. On building upwards, the government says it is seeking views on whether the existing building upward rights can be amended to increase the scope of buildings that can benefit from the rights2. On demolition and rebuild, it is consulting on changes to increase the scope of buildings that can benefit from the right and allow for a larger rebuild footprint2.
For electric vehicle charge points, the consultation seeks feedback on whether permitted development rights should allow for units necessary for the operation of charge points such as equipment housing or storage cabinets2. For air source heat pumps, it seeks feedback on amendments to the permitted development right, including consulting on removing the limitation that they must be at least 1 metre from the boundary of the property2.
"We are seeking feedback on whether permitted development rights should allow for units necessary for the operation of electric vehicle charge points such as equipment housing or storage cabinets."
The consultation applies to England2. The GOV.UK page lists the publishing body as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and states it was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government2. The Citizen Space page lists the contact number 0303 444 1209 and the email address PDRconsultation2024@levellingup.gov.uk1. No outcome has been reported; the GOV.UK page states "We are analysing your feedback"2.
| Area | Proposed change |
|---|---|
| Householder development | Larger extensions; further freedoms for outbuildings2 |
| Building upwards | Increase the scope of buildings that can benefit2 |
| Demolition and rebuild | Increase scope; larger rebuild footprint2 |
| EV charge points | Allow units such as equipment housing or storage cabinets2 |
| Air source heat pumps | Remove the 1 metre boundary limitation2 |
Why it matters for households
Permitted development rights are the route by which many home energy installations and home improvements proceed without a full planning application. The consultation covers the permitted development rights that apply to air source heat pumps and to electric vehicle charge points, alongside wider householder rights. For a household considering a heat pump, the 1 metre boundary limitation is a practical constraint on where an outdoor unit can sit, particularly on smaller plots or terraced properties. Removing it, if adopted, would widen the range of positions available without planning permission. The consultation is part of the wider process by which energy consultations turn proposals into rules. Where a local authority has made an Article 4 direction, permitted development rights are withdrawn and a planning application is required instead. The proposals apply to England; separate arrangements apply in Scotland, where building standards and heat pump planning limits are set under different rules.
What happens next
The consultation closed on 9 April 20241. The government states it is analysing feedback and that the outcome will be published on the GOV.UK page2. No date for the response has been reported.
Sources2 cited
- [Permitted development rights consultation: changes to support householder development, building upwards, demolition and rebuild, and the installation of electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Citizen Space](https://consult.communities.gov.uk/planning-development-management/permitted-development-rights-consultation-changes), consult.communities.gov.uk
- Changes to various permitted development rights: consultation - GOV.UK, gov.uk