Removal of 1m rule - can I now put a heat pump on the first floor side wall of my property?

[Michael_S]

The less than 1m from property boundary rule then planning permission required rule has now been removed.

 

I would like to mount a heat pump on the side wall of my property (wall is 1m from the boundary) at 3m above ground level, about 4m back from the front elevation of the property.  Would this now fall within permitted development. (It passes MCS sound rules).

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

Edited Tuesday at 23:01 by Michael_S

[JamesPa]

It might depend on what is the other side of the boundary as there are also conditions in the legislation about siting so as to minimise the effect on the amenity of the area.

 

Best check the full wording in the original legislation and the amendment order

 

Eventually amendments to legislation generally get consolidated back online into the original so you only have to read one document, but that has not yet happened with this particular amendment as it is not in force until 29th May.

[Dillsue]

Without knowing what lies over the boundary, my thoughts would be-

 

Sticking out from your wall 3m up in the air sounds very prominent and may not be to everyone's taste including your neighbour or any future buyer of your house. 

 

There's quite a blast of cold air blowing out of most units so think how this might affect your neighbour. Remember that there is statutory nuisance legislation that will trump planning rules.

 

Maintenance access is usually from what would be most installations boundary side ie the side furthest from your house. Typical HP needs 300mm gap from your wall and are min 300mm deep. This would leave 400mm Maintenance access before you needed to work from you neighbours property. Be sure that you can get access for maintenance and repair

[sharpener]

3 hours ago, Dillsue said:

Maintenance access is usually from what would be most installations boundary side ie the side furthest from your house. Typical HP needs 300mm gap from your wall and are min 300mm deep. This would leave 400mm Maintenance access before you needed to work from you neighbours property. Be sure that you can get access for maintenance and repair

 

Vaillant require only 200mm from the wall (250 if used for cooling). But their own ppl will not work off ladders so if you needed a repair under warranty you would have to arrange scaffolding or a tower. An approved installer might be different though. (I had a single-storey rear extension built and the main contractor had to provide scaff for the s/c brickies even though the brickwork is only 7ft high!).

 

Sounds a situation best avoided.

[JamesPa]

5 minutes ago, sharpener said:

 

Sounds a situation best avoided.

As it happens I agree with the visual and practical cautions mentioned above.  It's odd though.  Commercial Aircon units are very commonly mounted several metres up on walls and also on flat roofs.   Maintainers seem somehow to manage.

Edited Wednesday at 13:06 by JamesPa