Air conditioning in WA4: what works for a typical home
In WA4 last summer (2026) there were ≈2 nights that stayed above 18 °C — 2 times the 1991–2020 average of 0.8 (ERA5 reanalysis, grid ≈30 km, lower than street temperatures in cities). 4% of sampled postcodes here fall in a conservation area. For a typical house outside one, a reversible air-to-air unit is permitted development if it is under 1.5 m³ and meets 37 dB at the neighbour's window (Class G, checked 25 Sep 2026).
≈2 hot nights
Check your address
- ENG-01. Is the building a house, or a building that is wholly flats?
- ENG-02. What is the noise result at 1 m outside the neighbour's nearest habitable-room window?
- ENG-03. How many outdoor units will the building have once this one is installed?
- ENG-03. Is the house detached?
13 more unchecked conditions are listed below.
| Housing | Share | Path | Works here if | Planning | ≈ upfront £ | ≈ £ per summer at 26.32p/kWh | Installer? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| semi-detached | 42% | external shading | the window can take an outside blind, awning or sail | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £1,260.62 (n=23, unit price) | £0 (passive) | no |
| semi-detached | 42% | fan | you want air moving in the room tonight | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £59.99 (n=159, unit price) | no wattage recorded | no |
| semi-detached | 42% | portable 2-hose | a window can take an exhaust hose | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | no 2-hose price in this snapshot | no 2-hose passport in this snapshot | no |
| semi-detached | 42% | through-wall monobloc | the wall can take the sleeves and you want no outdoor unit | a hole through the wall is outside Class G | no through-wall price in this snapshot | no through-wall passport in this snapshot | yes, for the wall |
| semi-detached | 42% | split/air-to-air | one unit under 1.5 m³ and 37 dB at the neighbour's window; in a conservation area the wall must not face the road | permitted development if that row holds (Class G as amended 29 May 2025, checked 25 Sep 2026) | £946.99 (n=113, unit price) | ≈£92.89 (n=6679, 400 h, estimated) | yes |
| detached | 25% | external shading | the window can take an outside blind, awning or sail | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £1,260.62 (n=23, unit price) | £0 (passive) | no |
| detached | 25% | fan | you want air moving in the room tonight | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £59.99 (n=159, unit price) | no wattage recorded | no |
| detached | 25% | portable 2-hose | a window can take an exhaust hose | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | no 2-hose price in this snapshot | no 2-hose passport in this snapshot | no |
| detached | 25% | through-wall monobloc | the wall can take the sleeves and you want no outdoor unit | a hole through the wall is outside Class G | no through-wall price in this snapshot | no through-wall passport in this snapshot | yes, for the wall |
| detached | 25% | split/air-to-air | up to two units, each under 1.5 m³, and 37 dB at the neighbour's window; in a conservation area the wall must not face the road | permitted development if that row holds (Class G as amended 29 May 2025, checked 25 Sep 2026) | £946.99 (n=113, unit price) | ≈£92.89 (n=6679, 400 h, estimated) | yes |
| terraced | 20% | external shading | the window can take an outside blind, awning or sail | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £1,260.62 (n=23, unit price) | £0 (passive) | no |
| terraced | 20% | fan | you want air moving in the room tonight | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £59.99 (n=159, unit price) | no wattage recorded | no |
| terraced | 20% | portable 2-hose | a window can take an exhaust hose | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | no 2-hose price in this snapshot | no 2-hose passport in this snapshot | no |
| terraced | 20% | through-wall monobloc | the wall can take the sleeves and you want no outdoor unit | a hole through the wall is outside Class G | no through-wall price in this snapshot | no through-wall passport in this snapshot | yes, for the wall |
| terraced | 20% | split/air-to-air | one unit under 1.5 m³ and 37 dB at the neighbour's window; in a conservation area the wall must not face the road | permitted development if that row holds (Class G as amended 29 May 2025, checked 25 Sep 2026) | £946.99 (n=113, unit price) | ≈£92.89 (n=6679, 400 h, estimated) | yes |
| flat | 12% | external shading | the window can take an outside blind, awning or sail | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £1,260.62 (n=23, unit price) | £0 (passive) | no |
| flat | 12% | fan | you want air moving in the room tonight | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | £59.99 (n=159, unit price) | no wattage recorded | no |
| flat | 12% | portable 2-hose | a window can take an exhaust hose | not a Class G outdoor heat pump | no 2-hose price in this snapshot | no 2-hose passport in this snapshot | no |
| flat | 12% | through-wall monobloc | the wall can take the sleeves and you want no outdoor unit | a hole through the wall is outside Class G | no through-wall price in this snapshot | no through-wall passport in this snapshot | yes, for the wall |
| flat | 12% | split/air-to-air | one unit for the whole building, under 0.6 m³, and 37 dB at the neighbour's window; in a conservation area the wall must not face the road | permitted development if that row holds (Class G as amended 29 May 2025, checked 25 Sep 2026) | £946.99 (n=113, unit price) | ≈£92.89 (n=6679, 400 h, estimated) | yes |
https://files.planning.data.gov.uk/dataset/conservation-area.parquet · 2026-09-25 · n=1435 · 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-C06
ENG-01 · Class G, permitted development · checked 2026-09-25. The installation, alteration or replacement of a microgeneration air source heat pump—(a) on a dwellinghouse or a block of flats; or (b) within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats, including on a building within that curtilage. 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 England the noise method on this card is MCS 020 a) — Air Source Heat Pump Sound Calculation (For Permitted Development Installations), Issue 1.1. Threshold 37.0 dB(A). §3.2 Step 8, checked 2026-09-25: "If the calculated sound pressure level at all assessment positions is equal to or lower than 37.0 dB(A) then the heat pump will comply with the Permitted Development noise limit"
computed
| Method | Threshold dB(A) | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| mcs020a_1_1 | 37.0 | 2026-09-25 |
https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MCS-020-a-Issue-1.1-Final.pdf · 2026-09-25 · n=1435 · 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
mcs020a_1_1 · §3.2 Step 8 · checked 2026-09-25. If the calculated sound pressure level at all assessment positions is equal to or lower than 37.0 dB(A) then the heat pump will comply with the Permitted Development noise limit 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?
£2,500 is the air-to-air amount in England and Wales when the household predicates are met. £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps (AAHP) (in residential properties only) (p.6 summary table, checked 2026-09-25). The heating system and the property type are still to enter for this address.
not supplied
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Nation | England |
| Eligible | not supplied |
| Amount or rule | £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps (AAHP) (in residential properties only) |
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/boiler_upgrade_scheme_guidance_for_installers_v5.1_20260630135616-20260701135531.pdf · 2026-09-25 · n=1435 · 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
BUS-amount · p.6 summary table · checked 2026-09-25. £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps (AAHP) (in residential properties only) 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 WA4?
4709 registered offices in this Companies House catalogue sit within 25 km (distance is from the district centroid of live postcodes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH CHESHIRE ELECTRICAL LIMITED | 11317731 | WA4 | ≈0.1 km |
| MASTERPLAY AV LTD | 14121602 | WA4 | ≈0.1 km |
| DOL ELECTRICAL LIMITED | 11746690 | WA4 | ≈0.2 km |
| CMB RENOVATIONS LTD | 14619162 | WA4 | ≈0.3 km |
| STOCKTON HEATH HEATING LIMITED | 04984832 | WA4 | ≈0.3 km |
Companies House snapshot in installers.csv · 2026-09-25 · n=1435 · 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 in WA4?
In WA4 last summer (2026) there were ≈2 nights that stayed above 18 °C — 2 times the 1991–2020 average of 0.8 (ERA5 reanalysis, grid ≈30 km, lower than street temperatures in cities).
computed
| Measure | Nights | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 nights ≥ 18°C | 2.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2025 nights ≥ 18°C | 3.0 | ERA5, June–August |
| 1991–2020 average ≥ 18°C | 0.8 | ERA5, June–August |
| 2026 nights ≥ 20°C | 1.0 | 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=1435 · hn-era5arco-1, hourly minimum 21:00–06:00 local, June–August · 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 homes are in WA4?
Census year 2021. Allocated household estimate ≈21560.5 (the census row's own estimate, not a headcount of your street). Largest published accommodation share on this row: semi-detached at 42%. The source table is not a partition, so shares need not sum to 1. Census category named electricity only: 0.051585.
computed
| Category | Share or estimate | Year |
|---|---|---|
| detached | 25% | 2021 |
| semi-detached | 42% | 2021 |
| terraced | 20% | 2021 |
| purpose-built flat | 10% | 2021 |
| Census category named electricity only | 0.051585 | 2021 |
TS046+TS044 · 2026-09-25 · n=1435 · Census 2021 TS046 (central heating) and TS044 (accommodation type) at output area, allocated to the outward code by the share of that OA's live ONSPD postcodes which fall in the outward code. Heating shares use TS046 household totals as the · 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
Every unchecked condition
- ENG-01. Is the building a house, or a building that is wholly flats?
- ENG-02. What is the noise result at 1 m outside the neighbour's nearest habitable-room window?
- ENG-03. How many outdoor units will the building have once this one is installed?
- ENG-03. Is the house detached?
- ENG-03-WIND. Is there a wind turbine on the same building or in the garden?
- ENG-03-WIND. Is there a stand-alone wind turbine in the garden?
- ENG-05. What is the outdoor unit volume in cubic metres, including the housing?
- ENG-08. Is the building a scheduled monument?
- ENG-09. Is the building listed? A postcode search cannot clear this.
- ENG-10. Is this exact address inside a conservation area?
- ENG-10. Is this exact address in a World Heritage Site?
- ENG-10. Does the wall the unit would sit on face a highway?
- ENG-10. Does the roof face a highway?
- ENG-10. Would the unit sit nearer the highway than the building does?
- ENG-12. Will the pump be used only for cooling, or for heating as well?
- ENG-A4. Is there an Article 4 direction on this address?
- ENG-A4. Does that direction name this permitted-development class?
Next steps for this postcode
Better than a quote form: this postcode district has hot nights, the local housing mix and a cooling path for each common home.