Appeal 6005548

The appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted for the installation of air source heat pump to the side elevation of dwelling at [site address] , Sefton, Crosby [postcode] in accordance with the terms of application [name]/2025/01832, subject to the following conditions:

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than three years from the date of this decision.

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: J-38008BA7 Drawing 02: Site Plan as Proposed and J-38008BA7 Drawing 04: Elevations as Proposed.

The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of occupiers of the neighbouring properties, particularly in regard to noise.

[site address] is a two storey semi-detached dwelling and is separated from the neighbouring property of No.73 by a private driveway and a tall timber panel fence. No.73 also includes a private driveway which adjoins the common boundary with the appeal property. The side elevation of No.73 includes a front door to the ground floor level and two small windows to the first floor.

The proposed development involves the installation of an air source heat pump (ASHP) to the side elevation of No.71 at ground floor level. Based on the evidence provided by the appellant, the noise emanating from the proposed ASHP would be 37.8 decibels. I have been presented with no reason to conclude that the assessment provided is not robust or carried out to industry standards. That assessment indicates that the noise generated by the ASHP would be very slightly higher than the permitted development limit of 37 decibels as set out within the relevant guidance ([name]: MCS20 (a)). I consider this to be a marginal exceedance which would be mitigated by the presence of the tall timber panel fence between the appeal property and No.73 and the limited number of windows in the side elevation of the neighbouring property.

In light of this and without any substantive evidence to the contrary, a marginal exceedance of the permissible noise threshold of 0.8db would not be significant in the context of the development proposed and the character of the area, and I have been presented with no compelling reason to conclude that it would adversely affect the living conditions of the occupiers of the neighbouring properties through noise and disturbance.

Consequently, the proposed development would be consistent with Policy EQ4 of the Local Plan for Sefton (2017) which expects development to demonstrate that environmental risks have been evaluated, and appropriate measures are taken to minimise the risk of adverse impact, including to amenity and damage to health and wellbeing, from issues such as noise.

I have imposed conditions to identify the relevant timescales and plans in the interests of certainty. The Council have suggested a condition requiring the submission of a noise impact assessment, however given my conclusions on the main issue there is no compelling evidence before me that this is necessary to render the development acceptable.

For the reasons set out above, I conclude that the appeal should be allowed.