Planning Permission for Air Conditioning Units

[andy_ran]

I am watching this closely

I fitted my old house with AC and didnt for once even think if I would need planning permission. That was about 6 years ago.

I moved a year ago and have already bought a similar 10KW ducted system to install in my current house.

I see so many houses with AC in now, I cant for the life of me think they have all applied for PP to have them installed...

[Equus]

andy_ran said:

I see so many houses with AC in now, I cant for the life of me think they have all applied for PP to have them installed...

Clearly, they haven't. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't have.

As above: Planning enforcement is almost entirely reactive - LPA's are in meltdown just trying to cope with the stuff they've got to do, without going out looking for extra work - but they do have a legal obligation to investigate breaches of Planning where they are reported to them. With air-con/ASHP's, this will usually be due to noise nuisance (and of course air con is worse in this respect, too, because it's likely to be working at its hardest when temperatures are high and neighbours have their doors and windows open for cooling).

Also as above, though: LPA's are getting more complaints (therefore taking a keener interest in enforcement) due to the Government's push for ASHP's.

[andy_ran]

Equus said:

Clearly, they haven't. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't have.

As above: Planning enforcement is almost entirely reactive - LPA's are in meltdown just trying to cope with the stuff they've got to do, without going out looking for extra work - but they do have a legal obligation to investigate breaches of Planning where they are reported to them. With air-con/ASHP's, this will usually be due to noise nuisance (and of course air con is worse in this respect, too, because it's likely to be working at its hardest when temperatures are high and neighbours have their doors and windows open for cooling).

Also as above, though: LPA's are getting more complaints (therefore taking a keener interest in enforcement) due to the Government's push for ASHP's.

100% agree, I know as I said earlier, I never gave it a second thought and just did mine - Never had anyone knock on the door etc

I am about to put in planning for an extension, I will add the AC unit to the application at the same time

like a lot of things, it needs someone to complain for it to become an issue.

[Panamax]

andy_ran said:

like a lot of things, it needs someone to complain for it to become an issue.

This is the main point with domestic A/C installations. Stick an eyesore on the front of your house and you're looking for trouble. Stick a noisy condenser outside your neighbour's bedroom window and same applies.

If you're making a planning application anyway then definitely include the A/C on it. Otherwise it's broadly down to common sense.

[Equus]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

"Requires Planning Permission" does not equal "cannot be installed", by any stretch of the imagination.

[Matt p]

Simpo Two said:

Well, my first quote arrived yesterday - two interior and two exterior units - and not a mention of PP or PD.

The other thing I found odd was that he was perfectly happy with both units on a west-facing wall, where they will bake in the afternoon sun. I mentioned and he said it didn't make much difference.

I’d be telling him to bugger off. It’ll fry the electronics. Ask me how I know.

[bogie]

Panamax said:

This is the main point with domestic A/C installations. Stick an eyesore on the front of your house and you're looking for trouble. Stick a noisy condenser outside your neighbour's bedroom window and same applies.

If you're making a planning application anyway then definitely include the A/C on it. Otherwise it's broadly down to common sense.

Exactly my logic. I cleared it with my neighbor as its on our back wall which is close to the boundary, but its at the bottom corner of his garden behind his shed and the outside wall of my office, feeding my office and bedroom above. Neighbor is happy, its so quiet he cant hear it anyway from more than a couple of metres away and neither of us can see it. Now neighbor is thinking of getting same local firm in to install some in his bungalow ready for next year.

[Bluemondy]

Thanks for posting this Equus.

Just had a quote for 5 internal units powered by two external units (1front of house, 1rear in garden)

I'll think the only sensible option is to get professional advice and/or formal planning.

Any ideas or thoughts on the type of people whom might take this type of query on?

[Equus]

Bluemondy said:

Any ideas or thoughts on the type of people whom might take this type of query on?

Any (Chartered) Planning Consultant will be able to submit a retrospective application on your behalf, though they'll need drawings which not all are able to produce.

Beware that the title of 'Planning Consultant', unlike that of Architect, is not protected by law, so anyone can operate a business as such, with no qualifications or experience whatsoever. Look for the RTPI logo on their website, or MRTPI as a qualification.

[Bluemondy]

Equus said:

Any (Chartered) Planning Consultant will be able to submit a retrospective application on your behalf, though they'll need drawings which not all are able to produce.

Beware that the title of 'Planning Consultant', unlike that of Architect, is not protected by law, so anyone can operate a business as such, with no qualifications or experience whatsoever. Look for the RTPI logo on their website, or MRTPI as a qualification.

Thank you, that's greatly appreciated. We're not looking to start until feb/Mar 2023 so have time to do this properly!

Your previous comments about the installer was spot on, only mentioned the 1M from boundary and nothing about planning.

A very timely thread for me!

[surveyor]

This is something I was aware of, not least because I do not have 1m to play with.

I understand I'm on a sticky wicket, but the one advantage of my fairground neighbours is I don't think they will care, or go near the local authority. In any case, it's quieter than the adjacent train line!

It's good to see some professionals advice on the forum.

[Simpo Two]

Equus said:

In Planning terms, there's no upside to balance against the downside.

Unless you're Tesco and promise to pay for a school, or a new bridge.

[Equus]

Simpo Two said:

Unless you're Tesco and promise to pay for a school, or a new bridge.

I don't think they do that to mitigate the impact of air conditioning units.

[Simpo Two]

Equus said:

Simpo Two said:

Unless you're Tesco and promise to pay for a school, or a new bridge.

I don't think they do that to mitigate the impact of air conditioning units.

But hold on...

Equus said:

air conditioning increases rather than decreases overall energy consumption and carbon footprint.

if the a/c is powered by electricity - which it is - and that electricity comes from renewables - then the 'carbon footprint' must be zero...

So anyone on a tariff which is '100% from renewables' - well that's what it says on the box m'lud - shouldn't need PP.

What do I win?

[Equus]

Simpo Two said:

if the a/c is powered by electricity - which it is - and that electricity comes from renewables - then the 'carbon footprint' must be zero...

Are you willing to enter into a Unilateral Undertaking that the property can only ever be run on 100% renewable electricity, with a covenant to that effect that will be passed to future owners?

If so, then by alll means use that justification on the Planning Statement that you submit with your Planning Application.