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Class D: Water source heat pumps on domestic premises
Class D permits installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration water source heat pump within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or block of flats.
There are no Class D-specific limitations or conditions in its short wording. Other permissions and consents can still matter.
Need help with permitted development?
Permitted development can avoid a full planning application, but only if the right applies and every relevant limit and condition is met. Planning Geek can check the planning history, Article 4 directions and other restrictions, and help with a lawful development certificate or prior approval where needed.
Applying Class D
Check the curtilage and that the proposed system meets the statutory meaning of microgeneration. Listed building consent may be needed if works affect a listed building’s special interest; water and environmental consents are separate questions.
For non-domestic premises see Class M. Read Part 14, Class D and the general GPDO limits.
Legislation
Class D – installation or alteration etc of water source heat pumps on domestic premises
Permitted development
D. The installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration water source heat pump within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats.
Explore GPDO Part 14
- Part 14 overview: Renewable energy
- Class A: Solar on domestic buildings
- Class B: Stand-alone domestic solar
- Class C: Domestic ground source heat pumps
- Class D: Domestic water source heat pumps
- Class E: Domestic biomass flues
- Class F: Domestic combined heat and power flues
- Class G: Domestic air source heat pumps
- Class H: Wind turbines on domestic premises
- Class I: Stand-alone domestic wind turbines
- Class J: Solar on non-domestic buildings
- Class K: Stand-alone non-domestic solar
- Class L: Non-domestic ground source heat pumps
- Class M: Non-domestic water source heat pumps
- Class N: Non-domestic biomass flues
- Class O: Non-domestic combined heat and power flues
- Class OA: Solar canopies in commercial car parks
- Paragraph P: Definitions used in Part 14
- GPDO index
- Previous: Part 13: Water and sewerage
- Next: Part 15: Power related development
Page updated: 24th September 2026