Mid Sussex District Council covers both Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath, so the planning rules are the same in each town. Our prices are the same too. What changes from one quote to the next is the building: how far the pipes have to travel, where the outdoor unit can sit and what the electrics look like.
This guide gives our price bands, then looks at the two towns in turn, with a closer look at newly built homes in Burgess Hill. For a deeper look at Haywards Heath on its own, read our Haywards Heath price guide.
Price bands for Mid Sussex homes
| System | Price (+ VAT) |
|---|---|
| Single room split system | £1,200–£2,200 |
| Multi-split, 2 rooms | £2,800–£4,500 |
| Multi-split, 3 to 5 rooms | £4,500–£8,500 |
| Annual service | £95–£150 |
| Repair call-out (diagnosis) | from £75 |
| Air-to-water heat pump | £8,000–£16,000, before the grant |
Every installation price includes the equipment, fitting, commissioning and the F-Gas paperwork. You get a fixed price after a site survey, or from photos for a simple job, so the number on the quote is the number you pay unless you change the plan.
Burgess Hill: building on a growing town
Burgess Hill is growing. Homes England’s Northern Arc scheme for 3,000 homes on the north side of the town was approved by Mid Sussex District Council, as the government’s announcement explains. So a growing number of Burgess Hill homes are only a few years old.
New homes are usually the easier end of the range. Walls tend to be cavity construction, rooms are regular and there is often a clear spot for the outdoor unit at the back. A good level of insulation also means a room may need a smaller unit than you might expect, which helps keep a single-room job nearer the lower end of the band.
There are a few things to check before you book, though:
- Covenants and management companies. Some estates have rules about what can go on outside walls. Check your transfer deed or ask the management company.
- Still under the builder’s warranty? Drilling an outside wall is normal, but read what your new-home warranty says about alterations first.
- Space in the consumer unit. Air conditioning needs its own circuit. Newer boards often have room; if not, the quote will show the work needed.
Our new-build guide goes into more detail. You can also see our Burgess Hill air conditioning page and the wider Burgess Hill area page.
Want it done properly? AirCon Doctor installs, repairs and services air conditioning and heat pumps across London and the South East, from our base in East Grinstead. We’re an F-Gas certified company and NICEIC approved. Get a fixed-price quote.
Haywards Heath in brief
Haywards Heath has a wider spread of ages, from older houses near the centre to later estates around the edges. Older houses can mean thicker walls to core-drill and longer routes for pipework, which nudges the price up within the band. The council’s list includes a conservation area in the town, so position matters more there (see below). The Haywards Heath air conditioning page has more on the town.
Planning in Mid Sussex
Under national rules on the Planning Portal, an air source heat pump on a house can be permitted development, so no application is needed, if it meets limits on size (1.5 m³ for the outdoor unit), siting and MCS 020(a) noise. Air-to-air heat pumps have been covered since 2025. A unit that only cools is not covered, and the rules are tighter in conservation areas and for flats.
Mid Sussex District Council publishes its list of conservation areas. If your home is in one, the outdoor unit must not go on a wall or roof facing a road. Listed buildings always need a separate conversation with the council. We look at all of this on the survey and suggest a position before you commit.
Grants and VAT
If an air-to-air heat pump replaces your fossil-fuel heating and heats the whole home, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can pay £2,500 towards it. It must be fitted by an MCS-certified installer and can’t sit alongside a boiler as an add-on. Air-to-water heat pumps get £7,500. We apply for the grant for you.
On VAT, HMRC’s Notice 708/6 zero-rates qualifying heat pumps fitted in homes until 31 March 2027, then 5%. HMRC says most air conditioning units are air source heat pumps, but each case depends on the facts, so we confirm the VAT on your quote. Businesses pay the standard rate. This is general information, not tax advice.
Quick answers
Is air conditioning cheaper in a new Burgess Hill home?
Often a little, because cavity walls, simple layouts and good insulation make the job quicker. It still sits within the same price bands.
Do I need planning permission in Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill?
Many heat pump installs on houses are permitted development. Cooling-only units, flats, listed buildings and conservation areas need more care, so we check on the survey.
Can I add a second room later?
Yes, if you choose a multi-split outdoor unit with spare capacity at the start. Tell us your plans and we’ll size it for them.
Related services
More advice
- Air Conditioning Cost in Haywards Heath: 2026 Price Guide
- Air Conditioning for New Builds: Developer and Buyer Guide
- Air Conditioning Cost in East Grinstead: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Planning Permission for Air Conditioning in the UK?
- All advice
This guide is general information, checked against the sources linked on 30 October 2026. It isn’t legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, grants and product ranges change, so check the current position before you rely on it.