New council data reveals Brits are waiting up to 28 weeks for heat pump planning permission approval

• Aira, the Swedish clean energy-tech company, has released a new Freedom of Information study revealing delays of up to 28 weeks for heat pump planning permission approval
• As the industry continues to scale-up, Aira says the delay for homeowners and the bureaucratic burden on councils and heat pump installers is unsustainable – it calls on the government to scrap the planning red tape that is slowing the UK’s transition to low carbon heating
• People choosing more sustainable heating solutions are having to pay hundreds for the planning applications, adding a disincentive to the decarbonisation of Britain’s homes
• The UK Government says that heat pumps will play a crucial role in meeting the country’s net zero targets and has targeted 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028. In England and Wales, a subsidy of £7,500 is available to help consumers buy a new heat pump with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
• By switching to the Aira Heat Pump and clean electricity tariff, Aira Zero, customers can save £320 on their energy bills over 7 months, so these delays are costing people money[1]

London, UK – November 18, 2024. Aira, the clean energy-tech specialist, is calling on the UK government to scrap the obligation for households to obtain planning permission for the installation of a new heat pump. Planning permission is required for heat pumps in various circumstances, including when the outdoor unit is installed less than 1 metre from the property’s boundary or the volume of outdoor unit exceeds *0.6 cubic metres[2], yet permitted development rights already allow homeowners to build single story 3x3 metre extensions, install home offices and jacuzzies without the need for planning permission.

There are 25 million boilers installed in households across the UK and the planning permission restrictions are preventing people from moving to cleaner, greener and more affordable heating solutions.  Based on the Freedom of Information requests, it appears thousands of households in England and Wales were left waiting for up to 28 weeks to have their planning permission for an eco-friendly heat pump approved, which means they are prevented from saving money on heating bills. 

Figures obtained by Aira reveal the average waiting time for planning permission is eight weeks, with residents in boroughs such as Westminster, Walsall and Birmingham having to delay their heat pump installation for up to 28 weeks while council planning officers work through their applications. The FOI data also found that some council planning departments have experienced up to a 600% increase in applications for heat pumps to be installed in their local authority area, demonstrating the growing demand for clean energy-tech solutions. 

A common myth is that heat pumps are noisy and disruptive; however, modern-day heat pumps are quiet in operation. A recent study commissioned by Nesta, the innovation charity, found that installing heat pumps in built up urban areas had no noticeable impact on typical ambient noise levels.

The government has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028. By 2035, it wants 1.6 million heat pumps to be installed annually. Over 42,000 installations were completed from January to the end of September this year, a record high for the nascent heat pump industry. The growth of the industry has been helped by subsidy schemes for households looking to install a heat pump, including, Westminster’s £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Home Energy Scotland £7,500 grant and £7,500 interest free loan. 

Daniel Särefjord, Aira UK CEO said: "Today, up to half of all gas boiler installations are distressed purchases - consumers buying a new boiler to replace an old one that has broken down. We want the government to reform permitted development rights and make it easier for homeowners to choose to replace their fossil fuelled gas or oil boiler with an eco-friendly heat pump. People should be able to do this without having to wait unnecessarily for months to heat their homes with a heat pump; heating systems that will play a vital role in driving the UK’s transition to a lower cost, lower carbon and more stable energy system.

Residential heat pumps have come a very long way since permitted development rights were last reviewed. By removing outdated planning policy barriers, the government will help the industry to focus resources on installing more heat pumps, creating thousands of new roles within the green skills workforce across the country”. 

[1] Calculations for the saving potential can be found below in notes to editors 

[2] Additional reasons for heat pump planning permission include, installing a heat pump on the grounds of a listed property, in a Conservation area, or fixed on a pitched roof

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact gabriella.irvine@airahome.com 

£320 cost saving potential scenario calculation: 

The calculation compares heating costs for a boiler versus an air source heat pump system (ASHP). Energy-related costs encompass the initial hardware expense for either your boiler or an ASHP, along with maintenance costs over a 20-year period. This also includes an average yearly electricity consumption of 3,375 kWh with the ASHP system and 3,000 kWh allocated for your appliances, contrasted with a gas consumption of 15,000 kWh for heating and hot water. 

These calculations are based on an average gas price of 6.24 p/kWh and 31.66 p/day standing charge and an average electricity price of 24.50 p/kWh. The calculation also includes the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) government grant and is based on installing an Aira 8kW Heat Pump, a 100-litre indoor unit, a 40-litre buffer tank and 5 new radiators in a semi-detached, 3-bedroom home with no loft or cavity wall insulation recommendations. It also accounts for 2 paid service visits for the heat pump after the initial 15-year warranty period has ended. 

In the calculation for Aira Zero, energy costs are compared between a boiler and a home equipped with an Aira Heat Pump under the Aira Zero tariff. It factors in a yearly electricity consumption of 3,375 kWh for the heat pump priced at a blended average rate of 19.24 p/kWh, which is the average from 40% base rate at 25 p/kWh, 52% dip rate at 12.25 p/kWh, 8% peak rate at 36.25 p/kWh. And 3,000 kWh for your appliances at 18.98 p/kWh, which is the average from 38% base rate at 25 p/kWh, 54% dip rate at 12.25 p/kWh, 8% peak rate at 36.25 p/kWh. 

For calculations based on energy bills (as opposed to energy costs), we compare the expenses of gas bills with a boiler to electricity bills for the heat pump over the course of a year. £560 annual saving / 12 months x 7 months = £320

DISCLAIMER 1: The comparison is an estimate of all energy-related costs over the expected lifetime of a heat pump. Gas and electricity bills are calculated using current prices as of October 2024 multiplied by 20 years, assuming constant gas and electricity costs over that period. Actual bills will vary based on variable factors, e.g. future energy consumption, future energy price caps and future tariff rates. 

DISCLAIMER 2: 15,000 kWh yearly gas consumption and 3,375 kWh yearly electricity consumption represent a typical Aira customer. The figures are based on Aira’s own data, comprising more than 800 costumer visits per month, and Ofgem data (between medium consumption homes - 11,500 kWh annual gas use - and high consumption homes - 17,000 kWh annual gas use).  Source of data: AIRA 2024.