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.
Plots in Clwyd with tight boundaries benefit from fixing the outdoor unit position before landscaping is finalised. Builders working across Clwyd can coordinate first and second fix with an installer covering Clwyd. New homes in Clwyd designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump.
Who it suits
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
In Wales 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; £2,500 for air-to-air). The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies to Ofgem for you, and the grant comes off your quote.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK, Wales included, until 31 March 2027. Planning rules for heat pumps in Wales are set by the Welsh Government and differ from England's, so the surveyor checks the unit position against them.
New-build and self-build heat pumps prices in Clwyd
Here are typical prices for new-build and self-build heat pumps in Clwyd, 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 Clwyd
We cover 16 towns in Clwyd for new-build and self-build heat pumps. Each links to local guide prices and the grant position for Wales.
| Town | Postcode district | Nearest town | Midwinter daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrexham | LL13 | Rhosllannerchrugog | 7 h 33 min |
| Buckley | CH7 | Mold | 7 h 32 min |
| Deeside | CH5 | Connah's Quay | 7 h 31 min |
| Colwyn Bay | LL29 | Conwy | 7 h 30 min |
| Flint | CH6 | Connah's Quay | 7 h 31 min |
| Rhyl | LL18 | Prestatyn | 7 h 30 min |
| Rhosllannerchrugog | LL14 | Wrexham | 7 h 33 min |
| Prestatyn | LL19 | Rhyl | 7 h 30 min |
| Llandudno | LL30 | Conwy | 7 h 30 min |
| Abergele | LL22 | Rhyl | 7 h 30 min |
| Connah's Quay | CH5 | Deeside | 7 h 31 min |
| Conwy | LL31 | Llandudno | 7 h 30 min |
| Denbigh | LL16 | Ruthin | 7 h 32 min |
| Llangollen | LL20 | Rhosllannerchrugog | 7 h 34 min |
| Mold | CH7 | Buckley | 7 h 32 min |
| Ruthin | LL15 | Denbigh | 7 h 32 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.