A small policy change – but one that could make a big difference this winter.

Until now, if you lived in a terraced home and wanted to install a heat pump, you were likely to face a frustrating hurdle: planning permission. The rule meant you couldn’t install a unit within one metre of a neighbour’s boundary – often unavoidable in dense streets – leading to delays of up to 10 weeks, or even projects being dropped altogether.

This week, that rule has been lifted. Under the government’s Warm Homes Plan, homeowners no longer need planning permission in these cases. The goal? To make urgent installations easier – particularly when a gas boiler fails and you don’t want to be backed into a corner, forced into a like-for-like replacement just to keep the heating on.

Now, households can make the most of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and upgrade to a heat pump without the wait – even in tighter spaces.

Today’s heat pumps are far quieter than earlier models – meeting noise standards with ease and removing one of the last concerns for neighbours. There’s also more flexibility to install larger systems – or more than one unit – without extra permission, all part of a broader push to speed up access to low-carbon heating.

At Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, we’ve already helped many households make the switch. Lis and Sarah’s East Oxford terrace now stays warm year-round, with lower energy use. And Nilam’s home is not only heated by an air source heat pump but has also been upgraded with better insulation and new windows – part of a carefully planned whole house approach to comfort and energy savings.

A heat pump on its own can make a big difference. But take a whole house approach – combining it with good insulation, ventilation, and new windows – and the results are transformative.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is it.

With planning rules now relaxed, heat pump installations just got easier – especially when time is tight and the boiler is on its last legs.

Now’s a good time to start planning and preparing before winter returns. Whether you’re facing a sudden failure or thinking longer term, we’re here to help you take a whole house approach that works for your home.

Let’s start the conversation.
Call our team on 0330 223 2742 or message us today.