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.
Small developments near Cambridgeshire can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near Cambridgeshire, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing. New homes in Cambridgeshire designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump.
Who it suits
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- 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
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Cambridgeshire can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which takes £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump when it replaces fossil-fuel or electric heating. Replacing oil or LPG heating qualifies for £9,000 for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027, and air-to-air systems for £2,500. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies for the grant and deducts it from the price.
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 Cambridgeshire
These are guide prices for Cambridgeshire, installed and including VAT. Your final price is fixed in a written quote after the survey and depends on the heat loss of the house, the radiators that need changing and where the unit goes.
| 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 Cambridgeshire
We cover 9 towns in Cambridgeshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peterborough | PE1 | Whittlesey | 7 h 38 min |
| Cambridge | CB2 | Royston | 7 h 42 min |
| Wisbech | PE13 | March | 7 h 37 min |
| St Neots | PE19 | Huntingdon | 7 h 42 min |
| Huntingdon | PE29 | St Neots | 7 h 41 min |
| March | PE15 | Wisbech | 7 h 39 min |
| Ely | CB6 | March | 7 h 40 min |
| Ramsey | PE26 | Whittlesey | 7 h 40 min |
| Whittlesey | PE7 | Peterborough | 7 h 38 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.
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.
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.
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.