- Guide price
- From £9,500 inc VAT
- Survey
- Free home survey for installation enquiries
- Coverage
- England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
A new-build heat pump is an air-to-water system designed into a home while it is on the drawing board or being built, rather than retrofitted later. Because walls, floors and glazing are being chosen at the same time, heat loss can be calculated from the drawings, and the emitters, pipework and cylinder can be planned for a low flow temperature from day one.
New homes in England are being built to tighter carbon standards, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each set their own building regulations; a heat pump is one of the main ways new homes meet them. We work from your architect's drawings and energy assessment, then fit in with the build programme: first-fix pipework before floors and walls are finished, and the outdoor unit, cylinder and controls once the building is weathertight.
Most new builds are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales. Some self-builds can be, depending on the circumstances, so check eligibility before relying on a grant in your budget. In Scotland, ask Home Energy Scotland about new homes; Northern Ireland has no dedicated homeowner heat pump grant at present.
Who it suits
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
Things to consider
- Most new builds are not eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales; check eligibility for a self-build before budgeting for a grant.
- Plant space for the cylinder and controls must be allowed for in the floor plan.
- Underfloor heating in screed needs time to dry before it is run at full temperature.
- Changes to glazing or insulation during the build alter the heat loss, so the design should be updated to match.
When should a heat pump be designed into a new build?
As early as possible, ideally before the drawings are finalised. Early input lets the plant space, outdoor unit position, pipe routes and emitters be agreed with your architect and builder rather than squeezed in later.
We calculate heat loss from the drawings and specification using the MCS method, then size the unit, cylinder and emitters. The design can feed your energy assessment and building control submission. If the specification changes, such as different windows or more glazing, the heat loss is recalculated so the system still matches the house.
Is underfloor heating the right choice for a new home?
Underfloor heating suits heat pumps well because a large warm floor can heat a room at low water temperatures, often around 35°C, which keeps efficiency high. In a new build it is straightforward to lay pipes in screed or in a floating floor system on each level.
Many self-builders use underfloor heating downstairs and radiators upstairs, or underfloor throughout. The choice depends on floor finishes, budget and how quickly you want rooms to respond. As a guide price, underfloor heating across a whole ground floor is £5,000–£15,000, installed and including VAT, with the final figure fixed in your written quote after the design.
How does the installation fit the build programme?
The work usually happens in two stages. First fix comes once the structure is up: underfloor pipework, flow and return runs and cable routes go in before floors are screeded and walls are boarded. Second fix comes near completion, when the outdoor unit, cylinder and controls are connected and the system is filled, tested and commissioned.
Screed needs time to dry, and underfloor heating is brought up to temperature gradually on a drying-out schedule. Things to allow for in the plans:
- Plant space with room to service the cylinder
- A solid, level base for the outdoor unit, with drainage
- An electrical supply sized for the heat pump
- Sleeves for pipes through the external wall
Can a self-build get a heat pump grant?
Possibly, but check eligibility first. In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is aimed at existing homes and most new builds are not eligible, though some self-builds can be, depending on circumstances. We do not include a grant in a new-build quote unless eligibility has been confirmed.
What's included
- Heat loss calculation from drawings and specification
- System design to support your energy assessment and building control submission
- Underfloor heating and radiator design and supply
- First-fix pipework timed to the build programme
- Outdoor unit, cylinder and controls at second fix
- Commissioning, underfloor drying-out schedule and MCS certificate
New-build and self-build heat pumps guide prices
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,500–£12,500 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,500–£13,500 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,000–£15,500 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,000–£18,000 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,500–£22,500 |
Installed, inc VAT: unit, cylinder, controls, minor pipework and commissioning. Most new builds are not eligible for grant funding, so no deduction is shown.
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
Do new builds have to have a heat pump?
The rules depend on the nation and when your project was approved, so check with your architect or building control. New homes in England are being built to tighter carbon standards, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own building regulations. A heat pump is one of the main ways new homes meet these standards, and we design the heating to whichever applies.
Can a self-build get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
In some cases. In England and Wales the scheme is aimed at existing homes and most new builds are not eligible, but some self-builds can qualify depending on circumstances, so check eligibility before including a grant in your budget. If the scheme can apply, the MCS-certified installer named in your quote handles the application. Scotland and Northern Ireland are outside the scheme.
When do you need to be involved in a new build?
Ideally before the drawings are finalised, so the plant space, outdoor unit position and emitters are agreed with your architect. At the latest, the design should be done before first fix, when pipework goes in under floors and inside walls. Late involvement usually means compromises, such as a cylinder in an awkward space or pipe runs boxed in afterwards.
Is underfloor heating worth it in a new build?
For many new homes, yes, because underfloor heating runs at low water temperatures that suit a heat pump, and laying pipes during the build is far easier than adding them later. It also frees up wall space. Radiators cost less and respond faster, so some self-builders combine underfloor heating downstairs with radiators upstairs. The design shows the flow temperature each option needs.
Where should the outdoor unit go on a new build?
Somewhere with free airflow, a solid base and drainage, away from bedroom windows and boundaries where possible, and positioned to pass the MCS noise assessment. On a new build this can be planned into the landscaping, such as a side return or screened area near the plant room, which keeps pipe runs short. Planning rules differ by nation, so we check the position at design stage.
How long does a new-build heat pump installation take?
It is split across the build. First fix typically takes a few days once the structure is up, and second fix with commissioning takes a few more days near completion. Underfloor heating in screed then follows a gradual drying-out schedule. Exact timing depends on your build programme, which we agree with your builder so trades are not left waiting on each other.