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.
Self-builders in and around Angus and Dundee can bring us in at drawing stage so the heat pump, cylinder and pipe routes are designed in from the start. Plots in Angus and Dundee with tight boundaries benefit from fixing the outdoor unit position before landscaping is finalised. Small developments near Angus and Dundee can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings.
Who it suits
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
In Scotland, heat pump funding comes through Home Energy Scotland rather than the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: a grant of up to £7,500 (up to £1,500 extra for eligible rural and island homes) and an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. For a home in Angus and Dundee, apply and receive the written offer before the installation date is fixed.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Scotland included, until 31 March 2027. Scottish permitted development rules and building standards apply, and the surveyor checks the unit position and any listed or conservation-area constraints.
New-build and self-build heat pumps prices in Angus and Dundee
Here are typical prices for new-build and self-build heat pumps in Angus and Dundee, installed and including VAT. Use the guide price tool for a figure based on your home, then a survey confirms it in writing.
| 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.
Towns we cover in Angus and Dundee
We cover 8 towns in Angus and Dundee for new-build and self-build heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Scotland.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundee | DD1 | Monifieth | 6 h 50 min |
| Arbroath | DD11 | Carnoustie | 6 h 49 min |
| Brechin | DD9 | Montrose | 6 h 46 min |
| Carnoustie | DD7 | Monifieth | 6 h 50 min |
| Forfar | DD8 | Kirriemuir | 6 h 48 min |
| Kirriemuir | DD8 | Forfar | 6 h 47 min |
| Monifieth | DD5 | Carnoustie | 6 h 50 min |
| Montrose | DD10 | Brechin | 6 h 47 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.
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.
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.