Air conditioning in Dorking
We install, service and repair air conditioning in Dorking and the villages around it, from Westcott and Brockham to Mickleham, the Holmwoods and Capel. Box Hill, Ranmore and Leith Hill are all in the Surrey Hills, so we plan every outdoor unit to stay low and out of view.
- conservation areas in Mole Valley
- 26
- East Surrey Council takes over
- 1 Apr 2027
- single room, from
- £1,850
- annual service, from
- £119
Planning in Dorking, now and from April 2027
Dorking is in Mole Valley. Mole Valley District Council handles planning applications until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, Mole Valley becomes part of the new East Surrey Council, with Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge, and applications go there instead.
A unit that heats as well as cools can often go on a house without a planning application, under national permitted development rules, within limits on size, position and noise. Those rights don't cover listed buildings, and in a conservation area the outdoor unit can't go on a wall or roof facing the road. Our planning guide covers every rule.
Dorking's conservation areas and Article 4 directions
Mole Valley has 26 conservation areas. Dorking town centre is one, and so are several of the villages nearby.
The council has Article 4 directions on parts of three conservation areas: Dorking, Brockham and Leatherhead. They add planning controls to protect the features that give certain streets their character, so work that is normally allowed may need an application. Two of the three are in the Dorking area, so it's worth checking your address on the council's maps.
- Dorking: conservation area, with an Article 4 direction on parts of it
- Brockham: conservation area, with an Article 4 direction on parts of it
- Westcott: conservation area west of the town
- Further out: Abinger Hammer, Forest Green, Leigh and Charlwood
The Surrey Hills around Dorking
Box Hill, Ranmore Common, Leith Hill and the slopes of Denbies are in the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and so are villages such as Westcott and Mickleham. A National Landscape doesn't ban air conditioning, but councils look closely at anything visible from the hills or the lanes. The outdoor unit should sit low, at the back or side, screened by a hedge or planting.
Natural England has proposed adding more land to the Surrey Hills, including areas it calls the Betchworth Hills and Mole Valley, and the Ockley Low Weald. It sent the order to the Secretary of State on 7 September 2026, and no decision had been made when we last checked.
Much of the countryside around the town is also Green Belt. That deals with new buildings and changes of use, not equipment on an existing home.
Dorking homes and how we approach them
| Type of home | Typical areas | How we approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian and Edwardian houses | Streets around the town centre | Often in the conservation area, some with an Article 4 direction. Rear position, short pipe run. |
| Village cottages | Westcott, Brockham, Mickleham, Capel | Check for listing first. A ground-mounted outdoor unit on a low plinth suits older walls. |
| Large detached houses | The edges of the town and the Surrey Hills villages | Room for a multi-split or ducted system. Long pipe runs are planned at the survey. |
| Post-war and newer family homes | Newer estates around the town and the larger villages | Usually permitted development. One outdoor unit at the side can cool several bedrooms. |
| Flats | Dorking town centre and near the stations | Freeholder or managing agent consent first. Condensers go on balconies or flat roofs where allowed. |
Parking on install day
On-street parking in Surrey, including bay suspensions and waivers, is run by Surrey County Council, which normally needs at least ten days' notice to suspend a bay. Many village lanes are narrow, so tell us about access when you book and we'll plan where the van goes.
Dorking businesses
We fit and service air conditioning in shops, offices, restaurants, surgeries and studios in Dorking town centre and the surrounding villages. Much of the town centre is in the conservation area, so siting and consent come first. Commercial installs are done in business hours.
What air conditioning costs in Dorking
Our starting prices are the same here as across Surrey and London. Home prices include VAT. Business prices are plus VAT.
- 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£2,350inc. VAT
Floor-standing unit
2.5 kW console
- 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£1,795+ VAT
Commercial wall unit
Fitted in business hours
- from£119inc. VAT
An annual service
Keeps the manufacturer warranty valid
Areas and postcodes we cover
We cover Dorking and the villages around it. Put your postcode in the quote form and we'll confirm.
- RH4: Dorking town, Westcott and North Holmwood
- RH5: Mickleham, the Holmwoods, Beare Green, Capel, Ockley, Newdigate and Abinger
- RH3: Brockham, Betchworth and Buckland
Dorking questions
Who do I apply to for planning permission in Dorking?
Mole Valley District Council until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, the new East Surrey Council handles planning for Dorking and the surrounding villages.
My house is in the Dorking conservation area. Can I have air conditioning?
Usually, yes. Put the outdoor unit at the back, away from the road. Parts of the conservation area have an Article 4 direction, so check with the council first. If the building is listed, you'll need consent.
Can I fit air conditioning in a Surrey Hills cottage?
Often, yes. Check whether the cottage is listed or in a conservation area first. A ground-mounted outdoor unit at the back, screened by planting, is the usual answer.
I don't want a unit on the wall inside. What else is there?
A floor-standing console sits low like a small radiator cover, from £2,350 for 2.5 kW. If you're renovating, ducted air conditioning hides everything but small grilles, from £4,950 per zone.
Will it heat the house in winter too?
Yes. The systems we fit are heat pumps that heat as well as cool. That also matters for planning, because a cooling-only unit can't use permitted development.