Neighbours are revolting against Oxford University’s eco-friendly plans to build heat pumps that make a noise like “standing next to a motorway at rush hour”.
Two air source heat pumps are set to be added to Summertown House on Banbury Road, which is used as graduate accommodation.
This will mean removing gas boilers from 39 vacant rooms, a move the university says will help it reach its goal of net zero by 2035.
Oxford City Council’s planning committee approved the plans last week (Tuesday, December 9), under the condition that noise “shall not exceed existing background level at any noise-sensitive premises”.
Dozens of neighbours have hit out at the plans, claiming the level of noise will prove to be unbearable.
The heat pumps are roughly 36 cubic metres each, which local Dr Victoria Whitford says makes them “huge industrial machines” as opposed to small domestic pumps.
She said at a council meeting: “At almost 90 decibels, the noise is like standing next to a motorway at rush hour.
“We ask you to put yourselves in our shoes and imagine being besieged by the roar of industrial machines, woken from sleep, unable to hear birds singing or open your windows.”
Summertown House in Banbury Road
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Residents of nearby Apsley Road and Upland Park Road lodged 56 objections.
Oxford University insisted the level of noise would be 10 decibels below background level, but concerns have been raised about the way in which the background noise has been monitored.
Residents have conducted their own noise assessment, which found that background noise hit 35 decibels in the day and 33 decibels at night.
This was lower than March 2024 estimates gathered by the university, where it stood at 45 decibels in the daytime and 36 decibels at night.
Oxford University | PAThe university also has monitoring data from July 2025 which found that background noise was 34 decibels in the day and 33 decibels at night, but these figures were not used.
Residents also told Oxford University to consider alternative locations for the heat pumps away from their homes.
They also suggested using ground source heat pumps instead, but the university refused both proposals.
Oxford University said in a statement: “We are confident that noise from the heat pumps will remain beneath current background levels, as required by the condition attached to the planning approval by Oxford City Council.
“The Noise Impact Assessment supporting our planning application was produced by an accredited external acoustic consultancy, CPW, and was based on conservative assumptions.
“It showed that the proposed installation would be compliant even under a highly unrealistic scenario in which the heat pumps ran continuously at maximum power.
“We also added additional acoustic shielding to the design in an effort to address neighbours’ concerns.
“We have been as open and transparent as possible throughout this process, and reject any suggestion that we have concealed relevant noise measurements or otherwise behaved disingenuously.
“We now look forward to a positive relationship with our neighbours as we move ahead with the installation over the coming months.”
The proposed type of heat pump would see the noise produced by each machine stand at 86 decibels.
Dr Whitford said after the meeting: “We care about sustainability – true sustainability involves community buy-in and benefit.
“This project delivers none of the benefits and all of the harms to residents.”
