A key planning restriction on heat pumps has been lifted, removing the rule that required installations to be at least 1 metre from a neighbour’s property. This change, part of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, is aimed at accelerating the uptake of low-carbon heating by making it easier for millions of homes to install heat pumps—without needing planning permission.

Additional updates:

  • Size limit increased from 0.6m³ to 1.5m³
  • Detached homes can now install two heat pumps

This is a significant step forward, but challenges remain—particularly high installation costs and the need for better insulation in older homes.

To help address this, the Government has committed to:

  • Upgrade 300,000 homes this year
  • Boost the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
  • Provide more funding for low-income households to improve energy efficiency

At Ensign, we’re developing a heat digital twin by modelling the performance and impact of heat pumps in real-world scenarios. This cutting-edge work is helping drive smarter, data-led decisions in low-carbon heating.

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