Air conditioning in Hoddesdon

A market town on the old High Road

Hoddesdon began as an offshoot of Broxbourne, and the council's heritage leaflet notes that it stayed in Broxbourne parish until 1844. By the 13th century it had its own market, and Henry III granted its first fair in 1253. The town sits on the old High Road about 18 miles from central London, between the River Lee to the east and the A10 to the west.

Its High Street still has timber-framed houses and inns from the 16th and 17th centuries, many refronted in brick later. South of the centre, large houses from the 1880s onwards stand in big gardens. High Leigh Garden Village has had planning permission for up to 523 homes since 2015.

The Hoddesdon conservation area

The conservation area was designated in June 1968 and enlarged in January 1980. In 2011 the council adopted its appraisal, the first for any conservation area in the borough. It covers the Market Place, Amwell Street and Burford Street, then runs south along the High Street to take in Cock Lane, Yewlands and the Spinning Wheel, with the New River forming much of its south-eastern edge. The appraisal splits it into six character areas:

• Market Place and the High Street north: the medieval core, with most of the listed buildings
• The High Street south
• The Knowle and the streets around Cock Lane
• Yewlands: large detached houses from about 1908 onwards, by the New River
• Woodlands Drive
• Upper Marsh Lane

What the conservation area means for an outdoor unit

The appraisal describes the northern half as compact and urban, where the continuous building line matters, and the southern half as green and residential, with detached houses set back in large plots. In both, an outdoor unit can't go on a wall or roof facing the road without planning permission. In the south, a side or rear wall behind the building line usually works. In the north, flat roofs and rear yards are the usual answer.

The appraisal also recommended Article 4 directions for some named homes, such as 7 to 19 Bell Lane, Victoria Villas on the High Street and five houses on Yewlands. We couldn't confirm whether they were made, so if you live in one, ask the council before any outside work.

Hoddesdon homes and how we approach them

Planning: Broxbourne Borough Council

Hoddesdon is in the Borough of Broxbourne, which has no parish or town councils, so the borough council decides every application. Outside a conservation area, a heat pump that also heats is often permitted development for a house if it isn't cooling-only, is no bigger than 1.5 m³ and passes the MCS 020(a) noise check. Listed buildings always need consent. If you're unsure, a Lawful Development Certificate confirms in writing that no application is needed. Our planning guide has the rest.

In July 2026 the government announced that Broxbourne and East Herts will form a new Eastern Hertfordshire council from 1 April 2028, with elections in May 2027. Until then, Broxbourne Borough Council handles planning.

Broxbourne village and Wormley

South of Hoddesdon, the Broxbourne conservation area was designated in 1977 and runs from Spitalbrook to Mill Lane, taking in St Catherine's Road, Churchfields and the recreation ground. The Bosanquet family built the Churchfields villas in the 1840s, after the railway arrived in 1840. St Catherine's Road followed in the 1880s and 1890s, with five houses by Reginald Blomfield.

Two small conservation areas sit where Broxbourne High Road crosses the New River: New River, and Wentworth Cottages, built in 1910 and 1911 for workers on the Broxbournebury Estate. Wormley, between Broxbourne and Turnford, has its own conservation area along the High Road, with listed cottages on Church Lane, the Queen's Head and the Old Manor House. In all four, plan the outdoor unit away from the road.

Air conditioning for Hoddesdon businesses

Hoddesdon Business Park is one of the borough's two largest employment areas. The council's improvement plan splits it into six campuses: Woollensbrook, Pindar Road, Rye Park, RD Park, Dobb's Weir and Ratty's Lane. We fit wall units and ceiling cassettes in offices, workshops, trade counters and server rooms there, sized from the heat load.

In the town centre we work in shops, cafes, salons and offices, many in listed buildings, where the outdoor unit's position and the paperwork come first. Commercial installs are done in business hours, and we take over servicing from other installers.

What air conditioning costs in Hoddesdon

Our starting prices are the same here as across Hertfordshire and London. Home prices include VAT. Business prices are plus VAT. Planning and listed building fees are separate.

• A bedroom or study

  2.5 kW wall unit, 5 m pipe, fitted in a day

  from£1,850inc. VAT

• A living room

  3.5 kW wall unit

  from£2,050inc. VAT

• Two rooms, one outdoor unit

  Multi-split

  from£3,650inc. VAT

• Three rooms

  Multi-split

  from£5,100inc. VAT

• Ducted, per zone

  Hidden in the ceiling, survey needed

  from£4,950inc. VAT

• Commercial wall unit

  Fitted in business hours

  from£1,795+ VAT

• Ceiling cassette

  In a suitable suspended ceiling

  from£2,750+ VAT

• An annual service

  Keeps the manufacturer warranty valid

  from£119inc. VAT

Areas and postcodes we cover

We cover the whole town and the villages to the south, including:

• EN11: Hoddesdon town centre, Rye Park, High Leigh and Hoddesdon North
• EN10: Broxbourne village, Wormley and Turnford
• Nearby: Cheshunt, Hertford and Ware

Hoddesdon questions