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.
New homes in Staffordshire designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near Staffordshire, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing. Plots in Staffordshire with tight boundaries benefit from fixing the outdoor unit position before landscaping is finalised.
Who it suits
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
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 Staffordshire
These are guide prices for Staffordshire, 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 Staffordshire
We cover 13 towns in Staffordshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke-on-Trent | ST4 | Newcastle-under-Lyme | 7 h 34 min |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | ST5 | Stoke-on-Trent | 7 h 34 min |
| Burton upon Trent | DE14 | Swadlincote | 7 h 36 min |
| Cannock | WS11 | Burntwood | 7 h 37 min |
| Tamworth | B77 | Lichfield | 7 h 38 min |
| Stafford | ST16 | Stone | 7 h 36 min |
| Lichfield | WS13 | Burntwood | 7 h 37 min |
| Kidsgrove | ST7 | Newcastle-under-Lyme | 7 h 33 min |
| Burntwood | WS7 | Lichfield | 7 h 37 min |
| Rugeley | WS15 | Burntwood | 7 h 36 min |
| Leek | ST13 | Kidsgrove | 7 h 32 min |
| Stone | ST15 | Stoke-on-Trent | 7 h 35 min |
| Uttoxeter | ST14 | Rugeley | 7 h 35 min |
New-build and self-build heat pumps questions
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.
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.
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.