New homes in England are being built to tighter carbon standards, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each set their own building regulations; a heat pump is one of the main ways new homes meet them. We work from your architect's drawings and energy assessment, then fit in with the build programme: first-fix pipework before floors and walls are finished, and the outdoor unit, cylinder and controls once the building is weathertight.
Plots in Somerset with tight boundaries benefit from fixing the outdoor unit position before landscaping is finalised. Builders working across Somerset can coordinate first and second fix with an installer covering Somerset. Small developments near Somerset can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings.
Who it suits
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Small builders and developers working on one-off homes or small groups
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.
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 Somerset
These are guide prices for Somerset, 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 | £9,500–£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 Somerset
We cover 17 towns in Somerset 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | BA1 | Keynsham | 7 h 51 min |
| Weston-super-Mare | BS23 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 51 min |
| Taunton | TA1 | Bridgwater | 7 h 54 min |
| Yeovil | BA20 | Sherborne | 7 h 55 min |
| Bridgwater | TA6 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 53 min |
| Portishead | BS20 | Nailsea | 7 h 50 min |
| Frome | BA11 | Warminster | 7 h 52 min |
| Burnham-on-Sea | TA8 | Weston-super-Mare | 7 h 52 min |
| Clevedon | BS21 | Nailsea | 7 h 50 min |
| Nailsea | BS48 | Portishead | 7 h 50 min |
| Keynsham | BS31 | Kingswood | 7 h 50 min |
| Chard | TA20 | Taunton | 7 h 56 min |
| Glastonbury | BA6 | Street | 7 h 53 min |
| Minehead | TA24 | Burnham-on-Sea | 7 h 53 min |
| Shepton Mallet | BA4 | Wells | 7 h 53 min |
| Street | BA16 | Glastonbury | 7 h 53 min |
| Wells | BA5 | Shepton Mallet | 7 h 52 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.
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.