Do I need planning permission for air conditioning in Argyll and Bute?
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). Argyll and Bute has 31 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=3311 · 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=3311 · 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=3311 · 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 Argyll and Bute?
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAIRCON LTD | SC814317 | PA31 | ≈10.8 km |
| SAMBOREK LTD | SC372096 | PA31 | ≈10.9 km |
| A AND C BUILDING CONTRACTORS (SCO) LTD | SC630264 | PA31 | ≈10.9 km |
| ENLIGHTEN ELECTRICS LTD | SC754743 | PA31 | ≈10.9 km |
| GUTTERING MEN LTD | SC780682 | PA31 | ≈10.9 km |
Companies House snapshot in installers.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=3311 · 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 Argyll and Bute?
In Argyll and Bute 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 51 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=3311 · 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 Argyll and Bute?
Argyll and Bute 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 | 31 | records on file; the address is its own check |
| Article 4 | dataset-absent | pending_data | no record in this snapshot |
| Listed building | on-record | 5546 | 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=3311 · 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 Argyll and Bute?
51 postcode districts are linked below. Each has its own sample share and census row.
computed
| District | Page |
|---|---|
| FK20 | fk20 |
| G82 | g82 |
| G83 | g83 |
| G84 | g84 |
| PA20 | pa20 |
| PA21 | pa21 |
| PA22 | pa22 |
| PA23 | pa23 |
| PA24 | pa24 |
| PA25 | pa25 |
| PA26 | pa26 |
| PA27 | pa27 |
district_planning.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=3311 · 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
- Oban · 12 plumbing companies
- Helensburgh · 10 plumbing companies
- Lochgilphead · 4 plumbing companies
- Isle of Bute · 3 plumbing companies
- Dunoon · 2 plumbing companies
- Argyll · 1 plumbing companies
- Argyll, Argyll and Bute · 1 plumbing companies
- By Lochgilphead · 1 plumbing companies
- Connel · 1 plumbing companies
- Dalmally · 1 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.