Heat pumps in Edinburgh: planning rules that are stricter than elsewhere

Planning is devolved, and Scotland's permitted development rights for air source heat pumps are set out in Class 6H of its General Permitted Development Order, explained in the Scottish Government's Planning Circular 1/2024. Guidance written for England, including the Planning Portal's, does not apply in Edinburgh.

Under Class 6H, a heat pump can be fitted on a house or a building containing flats, or within its grounds, without a planning application only if a series of limits are met. Two of them matter more in Edinburgh than almost anywhere else.

Source: legislation.gov.uk

Permitted development for air source heat pumps does not apply within a World Heritage Site or within the curtilage of a listed building. The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh are inscribed as a World Heritage Site, so an outdoor unit anywhere within it needs planning permission, and listed building consent as well if the building is listed.

In a conservation area outside the World Heritage Site, a unit on the building is only permitted development at ground floor level on the rear elevation. Free-standing units in the garden must not be forward of a wall facing a road and must not exceed 3 metres in height. Edinburgh has many conservation areas beyond the city centre, so check your address with the council before asking for a quote.

• is the property inside the World Heritage Site
• is it listed, or in the curtilage of a listed building
• is it in a conservation area, and is a rear ground-floor position available
• does the unit protrude more than 1 metre from the wall
• is there already a heat pump on the same building

Source: gov.scot · historicenvironment.scot

Class 6H permits no more than one air source heat pump on the same building or within its curtilage. In a tenement or any block of flats, that means only the first flat to install one can rely on permitted development; later ones need planning permission. Shared walls, back greens owned in common and title conditions add further consent questions from neighbours and co-owners.

For tenement flats, air-to-air units, communal solutions agreed between owners or other low-carbon options may be more realistic. A good installer will say so rather than quote for a unit that cannot be approved.

Edinburgh owners apply to Home Energy Scotland, whose grant can be combined with an optional interest-free loan; English schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme do not reach Scotland. Money is allocated first come, first served, so a project waiting months for listed building consent should confirm funding timing with Home Energy Scotland. Any planning permission or listed building consent must be granted before installation begins.

Source: homeenergyscotland.org

Say whether it is a New Town flat, a Marchmont tenement, a Morningside villa or something else, and whether you already know about listing or conservation status. Installers working in Edinburgh see the details without your name; one firm can purchase the request outright, and our email tells you who before your number is released. It costs you nothing.