Air conditioning in Guildford
We install, service and repair air conditioning in Guildford and the villages around it, from Merrow and Burpham to Shere, Ripley and Pirbright. The borough has 40 conservation areas and part of the Surrey Hills, so we start with what the council allows.
- conservation areas
- 40
- listed buildings in the borough
- 1,000+
- West Surrey Council takes over
- 1 Apr 2027
- single room, from
- £1,850
Planning in Guildford, now and from April 2027
Guildford Borough Council handles planning applications until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, Guildford becomes part of the new West Surrey Council, with Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking, 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 unit can't go on a wall or roof facing the road. Guildford has more than 1,000 listed buildings, so it's worth checking the National Heritage List for your address.
Guildford's 40 conservation areas
The council lists 40 conservation areas. They cover much of the town centre and many of the villages. These are some of the ones we're asked about most.
- Town: Guildford Town Centre, Bridge Street, Millmead and Portsmouth Road
- Older suburbs: Charlotteville and Warren Road, Waterden Road, St Catherines, Stoke Fields
- Onslow Village, planned as a garden suburb from 1920
- Stoughton Barracks
- Villages: Shere, Albury, Peaslake, Chilworth, Compton, Ripley, Pirbright, East Clandon
- Waterways: the Wey and Godalming Navigations and two Basingstoke Canal areas
Article 4 directions in Guildford
In these conservation areas the council has extra controls on changes to the front of a house that faces a road or open space. Keep the outdoor unit away from the front, and check with the council before you go ahead.
| Article 4 area | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Town Centre | The historic core, including the High Street |
| Charlotteville and Warren Road | East of the town centre |
| Waterden Road | Close to the town centre |
| St Catherine's | South of the town, by the River Wey |
| Onslow Village | West of the town centre |
| Shere | Village in the Surrey Hills |
| East Clandon | Village east of Guildford |
From the council's historic environment information. Directions can change, so confirm with the council's design and conservation team.
The Surrey Hills
Much of the countryside south and east of the town, including Shere, Albury and Peaslake, is in the Surrey Hills National Landscape. A National Landscape doesn't ban air conditioning, but councils look closely at anything visible, so the outdoor unit should sit low and out of view.
Natural England has proposed adding more land to the Surrey Hills, including the Hog's Back and land around East Clandon and Hatchlands. It sent the order to the Secretary of State in September 2026, and no decision had been made when we last checked.
Guildford homes and how we approach them
| Type of home | Typical areas | How we approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Victorian and Edwardian houses | Charlotteville, Warren Road, Stoke Fields | Often in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction. Rear position, short pipe run. |
| Garden suburb houses and bungalows | Onslow Village | A conservation area with an Article 4 direction. Keep the unit to the back or side, away from the road. |
| Interwar and post-war family homes | Merrow, Burpham, Stoughton, Park Barn | Usually permitted development. A multi-split can cool several bedrooms from one outdoor unit. |
| Village cottages and large country houses | Shere, Compton, Ripley, the Horsleys | Check for listing first. Ground-mounted units suit older walls. Larger houses suit ducted systems. |
| Town-centre flats | Around the station and the river | Freeholder or managing agent consent first. Condensers usually go on balconies or flat roofs. |
Guildford businesses
We fit and service air conditioning in offices, shops, restaurants, surgeries and studios across the borough. Many High Street premises are in historic buildings, so the siting and consent come first. Commercial installs are done in business hours, and we take over servicing of existing systems from most manufacturers.
What air conditioning costs in Guildford
Our starting prices are the same in Guildford 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£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 the whole borough. Put your postcode in the quote form and we'll confirm.
- GU1 and GU2: the town centre, Merrow, Burpham, Stoughton, Onslow Village and Park Barn
- GU3: Wood Street, Worplesdon, Compton and Puttenham
- GU4 and GU5: Shalford, Chilworth, Shere, Albury and Peaslake
- GU23 and KT24: Send, Ripley, the Horsleys and Effingham
Guildford questions
Who do I apply to for planning permission in Guildford?
Guildford Borough Council until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027, the new West Surrey Council handles planning for Guildford.
I live in Charlotteville. Can I have air conditioning?
Usually, yes. Charlotteville and Warren Road is a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, so the outdoor unit should go at the back, away from the road. If the house is listed, you'll need consent first. We check this at the survey.
Can I fit air conditioning in a Surrey Hills cottage?
Often, yes. Many village cottages are listed or in a conservation area, so check that first. A ground-mounted outdoor unit at the back, screened by planting, is the usual answer.
Which system suits a large house in the villages?
A multi-split cools three or four rooms from one outdoor unit, from £5,100 for three rooms. If you're renovating and have loft or ceiling space, ducted air conditioning hides everything but small grilles.
Does 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.