Daikin UK has welcomed the UK government’s recent changes to planning regulations, which are set to significantly ease the installation of heat pumps across England.
The company said these reforms mark a pivotal step towards broader adoption of low-carbon heating solutions, aligning with the nation’s Net Zero ambitions.
The government’s Warm Homes Plan introduces several amendments to permitted development rights, including:
Removal of the one-metre rule: Homeowners are no longer required to maintain a one-metre distance between heat pumps and property boundaries, eliminating a common barrier for installations in terraced and semi-detached homes.
Increased size allowance: The permissible size for heat pump units has been expanded from 0.6m³ to 1.5m³, accommodating more efficient systems.
Multiple units for detached homes: Detached properties can now install up to two heat pumps without additional planning permissions, facilitating advanced heating and cooling configurations.
Hamid Salmimi, national product manager at Daikin UK, said: “Daikin fully supports these regulatory changes, recognising their potential to broaden the access to heat pumps in the UK, with many households now considering them as viable alternatives to traditional heating systems. Through the simplification of installation processes, we hope to see an even greater uptake of heat pumps across the UK, which would be a significant step towards achieving the UK’s target of Net Zero by 2050.”