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 County Durham can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings. Self-builders in and around County Durham can bring us in at drawing stage so the heat pump, cylinder and pipe routes are designed in from the start. Builders working across County Durham can coordinate first and second fix with an installer covering County Durham.
Who it suits
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
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 County Durham
These are guide prices for County Durham, 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 | £9,200–£12,150 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,200–£13,100 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £11,650–£15,050 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £13,600–£17,450 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,000–£21,850 |
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 County Durham
We cover 14 towns in County Durham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darlington | DL1 | Newton Aycliffe | 7 h 16 min |
| Hartlepool | TS26 | Peterlee | 7 h 14 min |
| Stockton-on-Tees | TS18 | Billingham | 7 h 15 min |
| Durham | DH1 | Chester-le-Street | 7 h 13 min |
| Chester-le-Street | DH2 | Stanley | 7 h 12 min |
| Billingham | TS23 | Stockton-on-Tees | 7 h 15 min |
| Stanley | DH9 | Chester-le-Street | 7 h 12 min |
| Consett | DH8 | Stanley | 7 h 12 min |
| Newton Aycliffe | DL5 | Bishop Auckland | 7 h 15 min |
| Bishop Auckland | DL14 | Newton Aycliffe | 7 h 14 min |
| Seaham | SR7 | Peterlee | 7 h 12 min |
| Peterlee | SR8 | Seaham | 7 h 13 min |
| Barnard Castle | DL12 | Bishop Auckland | 7 h 16 min |
| Sedgefield | TS21 | Newton Aycliffe | 7 h 14 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.
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.