UK homeowners have reportedly been forced to rip out their air conditioning units under climate laws, even as the country swelters in a record-breaking heatwave. Households in London were ordered to remove the units by council officials on the grounds that they produce too much carbon dioxide, reports suggest.
The orders were made in line with building regulations that say 'passive cooling' methods, such as opening windows and using fans, should be the first resort, above so-called 'active cooling'. Claire Coutinho, shadow energy secretary, told The Telegraph: 'It is totally bonkers for council bureaucrats to block people from installing air conditioning because it uses too much energy.'
Political Backlash Over Net Zero Policies
Coutinho added: 'We have to get out of this miserabilist net zero mindset which says that Britain alone has to stay stuck in the dark ages and can't enjoy the modern conveniences that are completely normal in other countries.'
Camden is among the local authorities that have reportedly stripped homes of air conditioning. It comes as temperatures in the UK could reach 40C this week, with a rare red warning for extreme heat extended into Friday. The unprecedented heatwave has led to school closures, difficult conditions in hospitals and widespread travel disruption.
How the Cooling Hierarchy Works
While air con installation usually doesn't require planning permission, it is needed in certain situations, including in conservation areas, with rules also varying for flats, shared buildings and leasehold homes, although occupants aren't always aware of this. Residents in north London have been forced to remove multiple air con units from their properties by council officers after they failed to comply with a 'cooling hierarchy', The Telegraph reports.
They were allegedly told to instead open their windows and doors for 'natural ventilation', despite inspectors concluding that the units were 'neither intrusive or harmful' to the character of the area.
London Plan Fuels Controversy
The housing regulations were adopted by local authorities in the capital from Mayor Sadiq Khan's 'London Plan'. The 2021 document holds that 'new development in London should be designed to avoid the need for energy intensive air conditioning systems as much as possible'. While national building regulations promote 'passive cooling' ahead of air con usage, London councils including Camden have taken a stronger stance, with a local plan actively 'discouraging the use of air conditioning' because it makes 'the local micro-climate hotter' and increases energy demand.
A government spokesperson said planning regulations for new homes were being reviewed to ensure the rules remain proportionate and effective. 'Air conditioning units are not banned,' they added. 'They can be installed in both existing and new homes and we expect councils to take a common sense approach to the rules around this, which are there to manage the interests of communities and the environment.'
Council Defends Its Position
A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said 'local planning decisions are the responsibility of the boroughs, who have their own policies in place', adding that the rules help 'keep homes cooler without relying on energy-intensive solutions.' A spokesperson for Camden Council said it advocated for 'simpler, low-energy ways of keeping homes cool'. They continued: 'Residents seeking planning permission need to demonstrate that alternative, more climate-friendly measures are not suitable, and that units will not create noise or other harmful impacts on neighbours. Enforcement action in these cases is rare and only used as a last resort where this guidance has not been followed.'
