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Class L: Ground source heat pumps on non-domestic premises
Class L permits installation, alteration or replacement of a ground source heat pump within the curtilage of a non-domestic building, subject to its specific restrictions.
No more than one pump may be installed and associated ground excavation must not cover more than 0.5 hectares.
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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.
Removal and restoration
Class L also requires the equipment to be removed as soon as reasonably practicable when it is no longer needed and the land restored as far as reasonably practicable. The installation and excavation must remain within the permitted scope.
For houses and blocks of flats see Class C. Read Part 14, Class L and any other relevant controls.
Legislation
Class L – installation or alteration etc of ground source heat pump on non-domestic premises
Permitted development
L. The installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration ground source heat pump within the curtilage of a building other than a dwellinghouse or a block of flats.
Conditions
L.1 Development is permitted by Class L subject to the following conditions—
(a) the total area of excavation must not exceed 0.5 hectares;
(b) the development must not result in the presence within the curtilage of more than 1 ground source heat pump; and
(c) a pump is removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed and the land is, as far as reasonably practicable, restored to its condition before the development took place, or to such condition as may have been agreed in writing between the local planning authority and the developer.
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