According to the Financial Times, the new government will
announce plans to ban gas boilers in all new-build homes by 2027.
After being extended until 2035, reports now suggest that the gas boiler ban could be brought forward to 2027 as part of the Future Homes Standard updates. The gas boiler ban is predicted to be announced in May 2025, with legislation taking effect in 2026. After that, a 12-month transition period for housebuilders is expected. The ban will have exemptions.
The news was followed by a new report released today by the Heat Pump Association highlighting that growth in the heat pump workforce is needed to meet UK Net Zero Targets. The report states that the sector is on track to train the future heat pump installation workforce needed to accelerate the deployment of heat pumps in line with projected targets, but certainty and increased consumer demand are needed to encourage trained individuals to become active in the workforce.
The report outlines that to meet the previous Government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028, over 41,000 full-time roles will be needed across the whole heat pump workforce, rising to 122,000 by 2035 to meet the target of 1.6 million heat pump installations per year.
The findings cover heat pump installers, the workforce needed from the electrical, plumbing, heating, and groundwork trades, and the sales and admin resources required to support the transition. They outline the growth needed in the total heat pump market workforce to accelerate the deployment of heat pumps in UK homes.
To read the HPA report in full visit: https://www.heatpumps.org.uk/resources/industry-reports/
New Barratt and Bellway study backs air source heat pumps
In other news, housebuilders Bellway and Barratt Redrow have just announced results from the most extensive research project ever conducted on electrical heating systems under controlled conditions in collaboration with Salford University. The results show that air-source heat pumps can provide energy-efficient warmth for new homes for less than £2 a day. During the Future Homes study, researchers at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 facility worked with the housebuilders and Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland over 12 months to test 14 different heating systems to see which would heat consumers’ homes the best at the lowest cost. The systems tested covered a range of technologies, including infrared heat panels, air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, skirting board heating, and traditional radiators.
Researchers hope the findings will inform new buyers, existing homeowners, renters, and landlords about the most efficient ways to heat homes when gas boilers are phased out in new homes. New homes built after 2025 will require alternative heating systems like heat pumps. Existing homes have until 2035 to replace gas boilers.
References:
https://constructionmanagement.co.uk/barratt-and-bellway-study-backs-air-source-heat-pumps
https://www.ft.com/content/3a359b76-d049-47f2-b0d1-70823d2c9e57
