Do you need planning permission for air conditioning in the UK?

It depends on the type of unit and where in the UK you live. In England, the government has amended the permitted development right for air source heat pumps so that reversible air-to-air heat pumps — units that can heat as well as cool — can, subject to conditions, be installed without a planning application. This is not a blanket exemption: it depends on meeting published conditions on siting, size and unit numbers, and permitted development rights can be restricted or removed altogether on some properties and in some areas. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate planning systems, and this England change does not describe the position there. Always confirm your specific circumstances with your local planning authority before installing.

Does permitted development apply everywhere in the UK?

No. This change applies in England only — it was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the Warm Homes Plan and amends England's permitted development rules specifically. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate planning and permitted development systems, and nothing here tells you the position there. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you need to check the applicable rules with your own local planning authority.

How close to my boundary can the outdoor unit go?

In England, the amended permitted development right now allows air source heat pumps — including air-to-air units — to be installed within 1 metre of the property boundary. That is one of several published conditions, alongside a 1.5m³ size limit for houses and a maximum of two units on detached properties. This applies in England only, other conditions and exclusions can still apply to a specific property, and you should confirm your exact position with your local planning authority before installing.

Does permitted development mean I can get the £2,500 grant?

No — these are two separate things decided independently. Permitted development is about whether you need to submit a planning application; the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for air-to-air heat pumps is about who pays for the installation. Not needing planning permission does not mean you qualify for the grant, and qualifying for the grant does not mean you're exempt from planning permission — you can need one, both, or neither, depending on your setup. As of 12 September 2026, the grant route is in force in law (SI 2026/390, from 28 April 2026) but claims have not yet opened, because MCS certification for the air-to-air technology itself isn't complete. See our full guide to the air conditioning grant for the current status.

Are there other conditions or restrictions I should know about?

Yes. This page covers only the size, boundary-distance and unit-count conditions the government has published for England's amended permitted development right — it does not attempt to list every possible restriction. Permitted development rights can be removed or restricted on some properties (for example listed buildings, or land within their curtilage) and in some designated areas, and individual planning authorities can impose local conditions such as an Article 4 direction. Before installing anything, check directly with your local planning authority — don't rely on a general guide like this one as confirmation for your specific property.

Do I need planning permission for a cooling-only air conditioner?

This isn't settled by the change described on this page. The Warm Homes Plan amendment covers air source heat pumps — including reversible air-to-air heat pumps — not an ordinary cooling-only split air conditioner, because a cooling-only unit isn't a heat pump. That means you shouldn't assume a cooling-only air conditioner is covered by this permitted development right. We're not saying it definitely needs planning permission either — that isn't resolved by the source cited here. In England, subject to conditions, other permitted development provisions may separately apply depending on your property; in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, separate planning systems apply. Confirm the position for your specific cooling-only unit with your local planning authority before installing.

Do I need planning permission for a portable air conditioner?

No. A portable air conditioner is a plug-in appliance you move between rooms — it isn't fixed to the building, so it isn't a building operation and planning permission doesn't come into it, anywhere in the UK.

Do you need planning permission for air conditioning in the UK?

It depends on the type of unit and where in the UK you live. In England, the government has amended the permitted development right for air source heat pumps so that reversible air-to-air heat pumps — units that can heat as well as cool — can, subject to conditions, be installed without a planning application. This is not a blanket exemption: it depends on meeting published conditions on siting, size and unit numbers, and permitted development rights can be restricted or removed altogether on some properties and in some areas. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate planning systems, and this England change does not describe the position there. Always confirm your specific circumstances with your local planning authority before installing.

Does permitted development apply everywhere in the UK?

No. This change applies in England only — it was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the Warm Homes Plan and amends England's permitted development rules specifically. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate planning and permitted development systems, and nothing here tells you the position there. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you need to check the applicable rules with your own local planning authority.

How close to my boundary can the outdoor unit go?

In England, the amended permitted development right now allows air source heat pumps — including air-to-air units — to be installed within 1 metre of the property boundary. That is one of several published conditions, alongside a 1.5m³ size limit for houses and a maximum of two units on detached properties. This applies in England only, other conditions and exclusions can still apply to a specific property, and you should confirm your exact position with your local planning authority before installing.

Does permitted development mean I can get the £2,500 grant?

No — these are two separate things decided independently. Permitted development is about whether you need to submit a planning application; the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for air-to-air heat pumps is about who pays for the installation. Not needing planning permission does not mean you qualify for the grant, and qualifying for the grant does not mean you're exempt from planning permission — you can need one, both, or neither, depending on your setup. As of 12 September 2026, the grant route is in force in law (SI 2026/390, from 28 April 2026) but claims have not yet opened, because MCS certification for the air-to-air technology itself isn't complete. See our full guide to the air conditioning grant for the current status.

Are there other conditions or restrictions I should know about?

Yes. This page covers only the size, boundary-distance and unit-count conditions the government has published for England's amended permitted development right — it does not attempt to list every possible restriction. Permitted development rights can be removed or restricted on some properties (for example listed buildings, or land within their curtilage) and in some designated areas, and individual planning authorities can impose local conditions such as an Article 4 direction. Before installing anything, check directly with your local planning authority — don't rely on a general guide like this one as confirmation for your specific property.

Do I need planning permission for a cooling-only air conditioner?

This isn't settled by the change described on this page. The Warm Homes Plan amendment covers air source heat pumps — including reversible air-to-air heat pumps — not an ordinary cooling-only split air conditioner, because a cooling-only unit isn't a heat pump. That means you shouldn't assume a cooling-only air conditioner is covered by this permitted development right. We're not saying it definitely needs planning permission either — that isn't resolved by the source cited here. In England, subject to conditions, other permitted development provisions may separately apply depending on your property; in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, separate planning systems apply. Confirm the position for your specific cooling-only unit with your local planning authority before installing.

Do I need planning permission for a portable air conditioner?

No. A portable air conditioner is a plug-in appliance you move between rooms — it isn't fixed to the building, so it isn't a building operation and planning permission doesn't come into it, anywhere in the UK.

Do you need planning permission for air conditioning?

Last checked: 12 September 2026. Every figure below is sourced and linked — see sources & cited data at the bottom.

In England, subject to conditions, the permitted development right for air source heat pumps — including reversible air-to-air heat pumps that provide cooling — now allows siting within 1 metre of the property boundary, a size limit of up to 1.5m³ for houses, and up to 2 units on detached properties, without needing a planning application.

That right only applies if the unit meets every published condition and if permitted development rights haven’t been restricted on your property or in your area. This is an England-only change; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run separate planning systems. It is not a blanket exemption — confirm your specific circumstances with your local planning authority before you install.

What changed, in one table

Condition	Before	Now (England only)
Boundary distance	Further from the boundary required	Within 1m of the property boundary allowed
Size limit (houses)	0.6m³	1.5m³
Number of units (detached properties)	1	2
Cooling-capable (air-to-air) units	Not covered by this permitted development right	Can benefit from the right, subject to conditions
Applies in	—	England only

Source: Warm Homes Plan (GOV.UK, published 20 January 2026, updated 18 March 2026), under the heading “Changes to the 1 metre rule”. These changes build on earlier changes that came into force in May 2025, and were informed by an independent review of air source heat pump noise emissions.

“The government amended the permitted development right for air source heat pumps in England to provide more flexibility, allowing more households, particularly those with less outdoor space, to install an air source heat pump without needing to submit a planning application. The changes enable heat pumps to be installed within 1m of the property boundary, increase the size limit of the heat pump from 0.6m3 to 1.5m3 for houses, double the number of heat pumps permitted (from 1 to 2) for detached properties, and allow the installation of air source heat pumps that can be used for cooling as well as heating, meaning air-to-air heat pumps can also benefit from the permitted development right.”
— Warm Homes Plan, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (GOV.UK)

Does this apply to you?

✅ Your property is in England and isn’t otherwise restricted (for example, not a listed building and not on land where permitted development has been removed) — but confirm this with your local planning authority, since this guide doesn’t cover every property type.
✅ The air-to-air heat pump meets the published conditions — within 1m of the boundary, no larger than 1.5m³ for a house, and no more than 2 units if you’re in a detached property.
❌ You live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland — this permitted development change is England-only; check your own planning authority’s rules, which aren’t covered here.
❌ Your property has had permitted development rights removed or restricted (for example by an Article 4 direction, or because it’s a listed building) — permitted development does not apply, and you’ll need planning permission regardless of the unit type.
❌ You’re assuming “permitted development” means no other permission is needed at all — separate matters, such as building regulations or the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant process, are decided independently.

What about an ordinary, cooling-only air conditioner?

Everything above is about air source heat pumps — including reversible air-to-air heat pumps that can heat as well as cool. A lot of people asking about air conditioning planning permission actually mean something different: an ordinary cooling-only split air conditioner, with a fixed outdoor condenser and no heating function.

That distinction matters, and it’s the key point for this type of unit. The Warm Homes Plan change described on this page amends the permitted development right for air source heat pumps specifically — it does not cover a cooling-only air conditioner, because a cooling-only unit is not a heat pump. Whether a cooling-only air conditioner benefits from any permitted development right is not settled by the source cited on this page.

This page does not tell you that a cooling-only air conditioner definitely needs planning permission, and it does not tell you that it definitely doesn’t — neither is supported by what’s covered here. In England, subject to conditions, other permitted development provisions may separately apply to fixed outdoor plant depending on your property type, and other conditions and exclusions can apply too. If you’re installing a cooling-only unit, confirm your specific position with your local planning authority before installing — in England or in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, which run their own separate systems.

Conditions apply — this is not a blanket exemption

Always confirm with your local planning authority first

This page describes only the conditions the government has published for the amended air source heat pump permitted development right in England: siting within 1m of the boundary, a 1.5m³ size limit for houses, and up to two units on detached properties. Other conditions and exclusions can still apply.

Permitted development rights can be restricted or removed altogether on some properties — for example listed buildings, land within their curtilage, or areas covered by an Article 4 direction — and in some local authority areas. This is an England-only change: it does not describe the position in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where separate planning systems and rules apply.

Before installing, confirm your specific position — including whether your unit and property meet every condition — directly with your local planning authority.

Planning permission and the £2,500 grant are separate

Not needing planning permission does not mean you qualify for the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for air-to-air heat pumps, and qualifying for the grant does not mean you’re automatically exempt from planning permission. They’re decided independently, against different rules. As the government put it when confirming the expansion of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: “We also support active cooling via air-to-air heat pumps as recently confirmed in the expansion of the BUS.” The BUS grant itself provides “new £2,500 grants towards the cost of installing air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries for central heating”, in force since 28 April 2026 — but as of 12 September 2026, claims have not yet opened because MCS certification for the air-to-air technology itself isn’t complete. See our full air conditioning grant guide for the current claimability status.

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More on air conditioning rules and costs

Air conditioning grant UK — the £2,500 rules explained →

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Portable vs fixed installation — which is right for you? →

FAQ

Air conditioning planning permission — frequently asked questions

Do you need planning permission for air conditioning in the UK?: It depends on the type of unit and where in the UK you live. In England, the government has amended the permitted development right for air source heat pumps so that reversible air-to-air heat pumps — units that can heat as well as cool — can, subject to conditions, be installed without a planning application. This is not a blanket exemption: it depends on meeting published conditions on siting, size and unit numbers, and permitted development rights can be restricted or removed altogether on some properties and in some areas. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own separate planning systems, and this England change does not describe the position there. Always confirm your specific circumstances with your local planning authority before installing.
What changed for air-to-air heat pumps and cooling?: The government's Warm Homes Plan (published 20 January 2026, updated 18 March 2026) set out changes to the 1-metre rule and other conditions for the permitted development right for air source heat pumps in England. As the government states, the changes “allow the installation of air source heat pumps that can be used for cooling as well as heating, meaning air-to-air heat pumps can also benefit from the permitted development right”, alongside allowing installation within 1m of the boundary, raising the size limit to 1.5m³ for houses, and doubling the number of units allowed on detached properties from 1 to 2. This applies in England only, these are conditions rather than a blanket exemption, and other restrictions can still apply — check with your local planning authority.
Does permitted development apply everywhere in the UK?: No. This change applies in England only — it was published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the Warm Homes Plan and amends England's permitted development rules specifically. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own separate planning and permitted development systems, and nothing here tells you the position there. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you need to check the applicable rules with your own local planning authority.
How close to my boundary can the outdoor unit go?: In England, the amended permitted development right now allows air source heat pumps — including air-to-air units — to be installed within 1 metre of the property boundary. That is one of several published conditions, alongside a 1.5m³ size limit for houses and a maximum of two units on detached properties. This applies in England only, other conditions and exclusions can still apply to a specific property, and you should confirm your exact position with your local planning authority before installing.
Does permitted development mean I can get the £2,500 grant?: No — these are two separate things decided independently. Permitted development is about whether you need to submit a planning application; the £2,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for air-to-air heat pumps is about who pays for the installation. Not needing planning permission does not mean you qualify for the grant, and qualifying for the grant does not mean you're exempt from planning permission — you can need one, both, or neither, depending on your setup. As of 12 September 2026, the grant route is in force in law (SI 2026/390, from 28 April 2026) but claims have not yet opened, because MCS certification for the air-to-air technology itself isn't complete. See our full guide to the air conditioning grant for the current status.
Are there other conditions or restrictions I should know about?: Yes. This page covers only the size, boundary-distance and unit-count conditions the government has published for England's amended permitted development right — it does not attempt to list every possible restriction. Permitted development rights can be removed or restricted on some properties (for example listed buildings, or land within their curtilage) and in some designated areas, and individual planning authorities can impose local conditions such as an Article 4 direction. Before installing anything, check directly with your local planning authority — don't rely on a general guide like this one as confirmation for your specific property.
Do I need planning permission for a cooling-only air conditioner?: This isn't settled by the change described on this page. The Warm Homes Plan amendment covers air source heat pumps — including reversible air-to-air heat pumps — not an ordinary cooling-only split air conditioner, because a cooling-only unit isn't a heat pump. That means you shouldn't assume a cooling-only air conditioner is covered by this permitted development right. We're not saying it definitely needs planning permission either — that isn't resolved by the source cited here. In England, subject to conditions, other permitted development provisions may separately apply depending on your property; in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, separate planning systems apply. Confirm the position for your specific cooling-only unit with your local planning authority before installing.
Do I need planning permission for a portable air conditioner?: No. A portable air conditioner is a plug-in appliance you move between rooms — it isn't fixed to the building, so it isn't a building operation and planning permission doesn't come into it, anywhere in the UK.

Sources & cited data

Warm Homes Plan (HTML) — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan/warm-homes-plan-html
Families to save in biggest home upgrade plan in British history — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/families-to-save-in-biggest-home-upgrade-plan-in-british-history

Last checked 12 September 2026. This page tracks a permitted development change that applies in England only and that is conditional, not a blanket exemption. Confirm the current position for your specific property with your local planning authority before installing.