Air conditioning in Chorleywood
We install, service and repair air conditioning in Chorleywood, Heronsgate, Loudwater and Maple Cross. Many homes here are large Arts and Crafts or Edwardian houses on planned estates, with covenants and Article 4 directions on top of the usual planning rules. Here's what that means for an outdoor unit.
- Station Estate land bought
- 1894
- Voysey's house, The Orchard
- Grade I
- two rooms, from
- £3,650
- ducted, per zone, from
- £4,950
Three Rivers in official figures
- households (2021 Census)
- 36,859
- live in a flat
- 20 in 100
- live in a house
- 79 in 100
- listed building entries
- 350
Of 36,859 households in the 2021 Census, 79 in 100 lived in a house (26 detached, 35 semi-detached, 18 terraced) and 20 in 100 in a flat. Most installs here are on houses, where a back or side wall is usually the simplest place for the outdoor unit.
In a conservation area an outdoor unit can't go on a wall or roof facing a road without planning permission, and an Article 4 direction can remove permitted development rights altogether. Check your postcode to see whether either applies to your street.
Figures for the whole Three Rivers council area. Sources: ONS Census 2021, table TS044 (accommodation type); Historic England's National Heritage List entries within the council boundary, through planning.data.gov.uk (one entry can cover several buildings). Checked October 2026.
A Metroland village built around a common
Chorleywood grew around its common, which was registered as common land in 1965 and is now a Local Nature Reserve. The Metropolitan Railway arrived in the late 1880s. In 1894 James Beckley bought the farmland next to the station, split it into plots and sold them to local builders, and the Chorleywood Station Estate followed.
The architect C. F. A. Voysey built his own home, The Orchard on Shire Lane, in 1899. It is listed Grade I. Three Rivers' appraisal says Voysey advised the estate's builders, which is why so many houses have steep gables, exposed rafter feet, round windows and stained glass.
Chorleywood homes and what they mean for an install
| Type of home | Where | What it means for the install |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian and Edwardian Arts and Crafts houses | The Station Estate, around Shire Lane, Haddon Road and Hillside Road | Conservation area and old covenants. Rear or side units, kept low and screened by planting. |
| Cottages and older houses on the Common | Chorleywood Bottom, Old Common Road and the edges of the Common | Many are listed. Article 4 controls windows, chimneys and front boundaries, so we plan pipe routes with care. |
| Large detached houses in big gardens | Heronsgate, Loudwater and parts of the Station Estate | Two heat pumps allowed on a detached house. A multi-split or ducted system suits several bedrooms. |
| Terraces and rows of houses | Around Station Approach | One heat pump allowed on a terraced house. The outdoor unit goes at the rear, out of sight from the road. |
Planning: Three Rivers District Council
Planning in Chorleywood is handled by Three Rivers District Council in Rickmansworth. A heating-capable outdoor unit on a house is often permitted development if it is not used only for cooling, is no bigger than 1.5 m³ and passes the MCS 020(a) noise check of 37 dB(A) at neighbours' windows. Our planning guide sets out the rest.
Inside any conservation area, a unit can't go on a wall or roof facing a highway without permission, and listed buildings always need consent. If you're unsure, a Lawful Development Certificate from the council confirms in writing that the work doesn't need permission.
Chorleywood's five conservation areas
Chorleywood and the places around it have five conservation areas, each with its own documents on the Three Rivers website:
- Chorleywood Common (1976): an Article 4(2) direction means windows, chimneys, front boundaries and hardstanding need permission
- Chorleywood Station Estate (1990): about 200 houses, around 80 per cent of them Victorian or Edwardian, with an Article 4 direction from 2006
- Heronsgate (1993): about 70 detached and 16 semi-detached houses in big gardens, in the Green Belt
- Loudwater Estate (1998): Arts and Crafts houses on private estate roads, with an Article 4 direction
- Outer Loudwater (2006): the land around the estate, with its own Article 4 direction
Heronsgate and Loudwater
Heronsgate began as O'Connorville, a Chartist settlement. Feargus O'Connor bought Heronsgate Farm in 1846 and laid out plots of two acres and more for working people, won by lottery. The roads are still named after industrial towns, such as Nottingham Road and Stockport Road.
On the Loudwater Estate, the council's appraisal notes that the roads, verges and woodland belong to the estate company, so none of the roads is a public highway. We check access and parking with you before the install day.
What air conditioning costs in Chorleywood
Our starting prices are the same here as across Hertfordshire and London. Home prices include VAT. Business prices are plus VAT. Large houses usually need a survey to choose between a multi-split and a ducted system.
- from£1,850inc. VAT
A bedroom or study
2.5 kW wall unit, 5 m pipe, fitted in a day
- from£2,050inc. VAT
A living room
3.5 kW wall unit
- from£3,650inc. VAT
Two rooms, one outdoor unit
Multi-split
- from£5,100inc. VAT
Three rooms
Multi-split
- from£6,500inc. VAT
Four rooms
Multi-split
- from£4,950inc. VAT
Ducted, per zone
Hidden in the ceiling, survey needed
- from£550inc. VAT
Design range upgrade
Daikin Emura, Mitsubishi Electric Zen, LG Artcool
- from£119inc. VAT
An annual service
Keeps the manufacturer warranty valid
Areas and postcodes we cover
We cover all of Chorleywood and the places around it, including:
- WD3: Chorleywood, the Station Estate, Chorleywood Common and Chorleywood Bottom
- WD3: Heronsgate, Loudwater and Maple Cross
- Nearby: Rickmansworth, Amersham and Chesham
Chorleywood questions
Do I need planning permission for air conditioning in Chorleywood?
Often not, if the unit also heats and meets the size, position and noise limits. In the five conservation areas the unit can't face a highway without permission, Article 4 directions add extra controls on some estates, and listed buildings always need consent. Applications go to Three Rivers District Council.
I live on the Station Estate. What should I check before an install?
Three things: the conservation area rules, the estate's Article 4 direction, and the covenant in your deeds. We look for a rear or side position screened by planting, then give you the details for any application or covenant consent before we book.
What's the best way to cool a large detached house?
A multi-split runs up to four rooms from one outdoor unit, from £6,500 for four rooms including VAT. A ducted system hides the indoor units in the loft or ceiling, from £4,950 per zone. A detached house can have two heat pumps under permitted development, which helps with siting.
Can I have air conditioning in a listed cottage on the Common?
Sometimes. You'll need listed building consent, and the council will look closely at where the outdoor unit and pipes go. We start with a survey of the building and help you prepare the details for the application.
Do you cover Heronsgate and Loudwater?
Yes. Both are Three Rivers conservation areas with large detached houses. On the Loudwater Estate the roads are private, so we plan access with the estate company's rules in mind.
Can you service or repair my existing system?
Yes. An annual service starts at £119 including VAT, plus £59 for each extra indoor unit on the same visit. We repair most brands, whoever fitted them, and confirm the cost of the repair visit when you book.