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.
New homes in West Glamorgan designed with underfloor heating downstairs get a low flow temperature that suits a heat pump. Small developments near West Glamorgan can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near West Glamorgan, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing.
Who it suits
- Replacement dwellings and major conversions treated as new homes
- Architects and builders who want a heat loss design from the drawings
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Wales
Homes in West Glamorgan can use the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which applies in Wales as well as England: £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, or £9,000 when it replaces oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. The MCS-certified installer named in your quote applies and deducts the grant.
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 West Glamorgan
These are guide prices for West Glamorgan, 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 West Glamorgan
We cover 8 towns in West Glamorgan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | SA1 | Mumbles | 7 h 48 min |
| Neath | SA10 | Briton Ferry | 7 h 48 min |
| Briton Ferry | SA12 | Neath | 7 h 48 min |
| Gorseinon | SA4 | Swansea | 7 h 48 min |
| Clydach | SA6 | Pontardawe | 7 h 48 min |
| Mumbles | SA3 | Swansea | 7 h 49 min |
| Pontardawe | SA8 | Clydach | 7 h 47 min |
| Port Talbot | SA12 | Briton Ferry | 7 h 49 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.
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.
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.