A leading councillor has won permission to install an air source heat pump for his home in East Reading.
Back in February, councillor Rob White applied for an air source heat pump to be installed at his terraced home in Coventry Road, Newtown.
Air source heat pumps work by taking warmth from the air outside and processing it to warm a home.
Now cllr White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition on Reading Borough Council can have a pump installed to the rear of his house.
Cllr White said: “I am pleased that the council has granted planning permission for the heat pump.
“However if we are to decarbonise the energy grid and tackle climate change the government needs to make it far easier for people to get a heat pump.”
Because the plan was submitted by cllr White as a councillor, the installation had to be approved by the council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, May 29.
Cllr Doug Cresswell (Green, Katesgrove) asked new chairwoman cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) whether he had to declare an interest as cllr Creswell is a fellow Green party councillor.
Cllr Gavin replied that he would not need to declare an interest as all applications submitted by councillors must be decided by the committee.
The installation of the air source heat pump was unanimously approved.
You can view the approved application by typing reference 240179 into the council’s planning portal.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here