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.
Small developments near Herefordshire can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near Herefordshire, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing. New homes in Herefordshire designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump.
Who it suits
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
Grants and rules for heat pumps in England
Homes in Herefordshire 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.
There is no VAT on installing a heat pump anywhere in the UK until 31 March 2027. In England most houses can have an air source heat pump under permitted development, provided the unit meets the MCS noise and siting standards; the old 1 m boundary limit was removed on 29 May 2025. We flag listed buildings, flats and sensitive conservation-area positions at survey.
New-build and self-build heat pumps prices in Herefordshire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Herefordshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Herefordshire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| 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 Herefordshire
We cover 5 towns in Herefordshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hereford | HR1 | Ross-on-Wye | 7 h 44 min |
| Kington | HR5 | Leominster | 7 h 42 min |
| Ledbury | HR8 | Malvern | 7 h 44 min |
| Leominster | HR6 | Tenbury Wells | 7 h 42 min |
| Ross-on-Wye | HR9 | Ledbury | 7 h 45 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.
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.
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.