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.
Builders working across Bedfordshire can coordinate first and second fix with an installer covering Bedfordshire. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near Bedfordshire, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing. New homes in Bedfordshire designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump.
Who it suits
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
In England the Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 towards an air source heat pump (£9,000 if it replaces oil or LPG, from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), and since 28 April 2026 a valid EPC is no longer needed. The grant is applied for by the MCS-certified installer and shown as a deduction on your quote.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Since 29 May 2025, permitted development in England allows up to two air source heat pumps on a house, each up to 1.5 m³, with no blanket 1 m boundary rule — the installation must still meet the MCS planning standards, including the noise check. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation-area positions need extra consent, which we check at survey.
New-build and self-build heat pumps prices in Bedfordshire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Bedfordshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Bedfordshire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,700–£12,750 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,700–£13,750 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,250–£15,800 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,300–£18,350 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,850–£22,950 |
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 Bedfordshire
We cover 9 towns in Bedfordshire for new-build and self-build heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for England.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luton | LU1 | Dunstable | 7 h 46 min |
| Bedford | MK40 | Kempston | 7 h 43 min |
| Dunstable | LU6 | Luton | 7 h 46 min |
| Leighton Buzzard | LU7 | Dunstable | 7 h 45 min |
| Ampthill | MK45 | Flitwick | 7 h 44 min |
| Kempston | MK42 | Bedford | 7 h 43 min |
| Biggleswade | SG18 | Sandy | 7 h 43 min |
| Flitwick | MK45 | Ampthill | 7 h 44 min |
| Sandy | SG19 | Biggleswade | 7 h 43 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.
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.