Do I need planning permission for air conditioning in Aberdeen City?
Probably yes for cooling: Scotland's permitted-development class for heat pumps (Class 6H) covers heating and hot water only, so an air-conditioning unit used for cooling is not covered by that class and a planning application may be needed; a heat pump used only for heating can be permitted if it meets the noise and siting rules (checked 25 Sep 2026). Aberdeen City has 11 conservation-area records on file (status on-record, snapshot 25 Sep 2026).
application may be needed
What to include in an application
- SCO-01. Is the building a house, or a building that is wholly flats?
- SCO-02. How many outdoor units will the building have once this one is installed?
- SCO-06. Is this exact address in a World Heritage Site?
- SCO-06. Is the building listed? A postcode search cannot clear this.
5 more unchecked conditions are listed below.
| Measure | Nights | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 nights ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2025 nights ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 1991–2020 average ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2026 nights ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2025 nights ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 1991–2020 average ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
https://inspire.hes.scot/AtomService/DATA/ca_scotland.zip · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · ERA5 hn-era5arco-1 for nights; Class G or Class 6H for the planning sentence; census shares where a housing table is shown · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class PLN-C09
SCO-01 · Class 6H(1) · checked 2026-09-25. The installation, alteration or replacement of an air source heat pump on a dwelling or within the curtilage of a dwelling. Source
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
This cannot be fully checked from the data available — one or more conditions have no record. This means 'not checked', not 'permission not needed'; verify directly with your local planning authority.
What noise limit applies here?
In Scotland the noise method on this card is MCS 020 — MCS Planning Standards for Permitted Development Installations of Wind Turbines and Air Source Heat Pumps on Domestic Premises, Issue 1.3. Threshold 42.0 dB(A). Step 10, checked 2026-09-25: "Is the FINAL RESULT in STEP 9 equal to or lower than the permitted development noise limit of 42.0 dB(A)?"
computed
| Method | Threshold dB(A) | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| mcs020_legacy_scotland | 42.0 | 2026-09-25 |
https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/9082/mcs-020.pdf · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · threshold copied from decision-contract.yaml; no local measurement · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class unmatched
mcs020_legacy_scotland · Step 10 · checked 2026-09-25. Is the FINAL RESULT in STEP 9 equal to or lower than the permitted development noise limit of 42.0 dB(A)? Source
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
Is the £2,500 air-to-air grant available here?
Home Energy Scotland does not fund an air-to-air unit that cools. We will not cover: … Air to air heat pumps. (eligible costs, air-to-water/ground/water-to-water heat pump section, checked 2026-09-25).
no
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Nation | Scotland |
| Eligible | no |
| Amount or rule | We will not cover: … Air to air heat pumps. |
https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/home-energy-scotland-grant-loan-terms-conditions · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · evaluate_grant; property type not entered; technology air_to_air · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class unmatched
HES-air-to-air · eligible costs, air-to-water/ground/water-to-water heat pump section · checked 2026-09-25. We will not cover: … Air to air heat pumps. Source
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
Which registered offices are within 25 km of Aberdeen City?
456 registered offices in this Companies House catalogue sit within 25 km (centroid is the postcode-weighted mean of linked districts, haversine to the registered office). An MCS air-to-air certificate is not on file for 150573 of 150573 companies (last attempt 2026-09-25). An F-Gas number is not on file for 150573 companies.
computed
| Company | Company number | Office district | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIGHLAND HEAT HARVESTERS LTD | SC770067 | AB15 | ≈0.5 km |
| BONNYMUIR HEATING LTD | SC755606 | AB15 | ≈0.6 km |
| MODULUS TECH LIMITED | SC845604 | AB15 | ≈0.7 km |
| GRAMPIAN PLUMBING AND HEATING LIMITED | SC559038 | AB15 | ≈0.7 km |
| FTS1 ELECTRICAL LTD | SC883245 | AB16 | ≈0.8 km |
Companies House snapshot in installers.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · haversine ≤ 25 km from centroid to registered office; a missing MCS row is not a count of zero certificates · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class unmatched
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
How hot does it get around Aberdeen City?
In Aberdeen City last summer (2026) there were ≈0 nights that stayed above 18 °C — below the 1991–2020 average of 0.0 (ERA5 reanalysis, grid ≈30 km, lower than street temperatures in cities). Figure is a household-weighted mean of 15 linked districts.
computed
| Measure | Nights | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 nights ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2025 nights ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 1991–2020 average ≥ 18°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2026 nights ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2025 nights ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 1991–2020 average ≥ 20°C | 0.0 | ERA5, June–August |
ERA5-ARCO district_heat.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · hn-era5arco-1 aggregated by household estimate · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class DST-C05
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
What planning records are on file for Aberdeen City?
Aberdeen City planning snapshot 2026-09-25. A count is records on file, and the address is still its own check.
computed
| Check | Status | Records or sample share | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservation area | on-record | 11 | records on file; the address is its own check |
| Article 4 | dataset-absent | pending_data | no record in this snapshot |
| Listed building | on-record | 2106 | a count of records cannot clear your building |
| Tree zone | dataset-absent | pending_data | no record in this snapshot |
https://inspire.hes.scot/AtomService/DATA/ca_scotland.zip · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · snapshot counts; one address can differ · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class PLN-C09
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
Which postcode districts fall under Aberdeen City?
15 postcode districts are linked below. Each has its own sample share and census row.
computed
| District | Page |
|---|---|
| AB10 | ab10 |
| AB11 | ab11 |
| AB12 | ab12 |
| AB13 | ab13 |
| AB14 | ab14 |
| AB15 | ab15 |
| AB16 | ab16 |
| AB21 | ab21 |
| AB22 | ab22 |
| AB23 | ab23 |
| AB24 | ab24 |
| AB25 | ab25 |
district_planning.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=6347 · link table, not a new statistic · updated 2026-09-25 · version 1.0.0 · CSV of the values on this page · class unmatched
Full engine wording and the measurement caveat
not a measured level, proof of permitted development, or a guarantee against nuisance
Every unchecked condition
- SCO-01. Is the building a house, or a building that is wholly flats?
- SCO-02. How many outdoor units will the building have once this one is installed?
- SCO-06. Is this exact address in a World Heritage Site?
- SCO-06. Is the building listed? A postcode search cannot clear this.
- SCO-07. Will the pump be used only for cooling, or for heating as well?
- SCO-08. What is the noise result at 1 m outside the neighbour's nearest habitable-room window?
- SCO-A4. Is there an Article 4 direction on this address?
- SCO-A4. Does that direction name this permitted-development class?
- SCO-01. Is the unit on the dwelling, or within the curtilage?
Postcode districts linked to this authority
Next steps for this council
- Home Energy Scotland and air-to-air
- Fitted cost in Scotland
- Aberdeen · 113 plumbing companies
- Aberdeenshire · 5 plumbing companies
- Peterculter · 3 plumbing companies
- Milltimber · 2 plumbing companies
- Altens · 1 plumbing companies
- Balgownie Road, Bridge of Don · 1 plumbing companies
- Blackburn, Aberdeen City · 1 plumbing companies
- Newmachar · 1 plumbing companies
- 4/5 Golden Square · 0 plumbing companies
- Balmedie · 0 plumbing companies
Better than a council page that only links to a form: the usual case is answered first, with the clause and the check date.