The government has initiated a thorough review to determine whether the noise levels produced by low-carbon energy supplies necessitate amendments to planning regulations. The findings of this review are expected to be published later this summer. Concerns have been raised regarding terraced properties, which account for around 5.7 million in England and 358,000 in Wales, as they often lack sufficient space between each other, making compliance with planning regulations a challenge.
Campaigners argue that excessive bureaucratic requirements are hindering the widespread adoption of heat pumps. The three-meter rule in Wales is currently under review due to concerns that it acts as a barrier to the implementation of heat pumps.
David Cowdrey, the director of external affairs at the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Charitable Foundation, stated, “More and more households are installing heat pumps, but the growth in sales of these highly efficient heating systems is being limited by current planning restrictions. The government has set a target of 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028, but the UK is currently lagging behind. We need to remove unnecessary planning barriers that penalize the use of heat pumps.”
Cowdrey added, “There also needs to be greater consumer awareness so that homeowners understand the benefits of heat pumps and can find certified contractors who install according to MCS standards.”
The introduction of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in April allows households to claim grants of £5,000 to assist with the cost of replacing a boiler with a heat pump. This scheme should enable suppliers to offer lower prices to customers.
While the cost of purchasing and installing an 8kW air source heat pump ranges from £12,000 to £15,000, with the grant scheme, the typical amount paid is between £7,000 and £10,000, as reported by energy specialist Evergreen Energy.
Despite the implementation of this scheme, the UK is currently “significantly off track” in meeting its target, according to the Climate Change Committee’s report in June. In 2020, the committee projected that Britain needed to install between one and two million heat pumps per year by 2035 to make substantial progress towards achieving net zero emissions.
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