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.
Builders working across Wiltshire can coordinate first and second fix with an installer covering Wiltshire. Small developments near Wiltshire can be designed plot by plot, with heat loss worked out from each house type's drawings. For barn conversions and replacement dwellings near Wiltshire, the design starts from the specification of the new walls, floors and glazing.
Who it suits
- Self-builders planning heating alongside the structure
- Homes designed with underfloor heating on one or more floors
- 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
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 Wiltshire
The ranges below are typical installed prices for homes in Wiltshire, including VAT. A survey sets the exact figure, because two similar-looking houses in Wiltshire can need quite different radiators and pipework.
| Home | Typical size | Installed guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 bedroom flat or small terrace | 4–5 kW | £9,600–£12,650 |
| 2–3 bedroom terrace or semi | 5–7 kW | £10,600–£13,650 |
| 3 bedroom semi or small detached | 6–9 kW | £12,100–£15,650 |
| 4 bedroom detached | 8–12 kW | £14,150–£18,200 |
| 5+ bedroom or larger older house | 11–16 kW | £16,650–£22,750 |
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 Wiltshire
We cover 12 towns in Wiltshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swindon | SN1 | Marlborough | 7 h 49 min |
| Salisbury | SP1 | Amesbury | 7 h 54 min |
| Trowbridge | BA14 | Bradford-on-Avon | 7 h 51 min |
| Chippenham | SN15 | Corsham | 7 h 50 min |
| Melksham | SN12 | Corsham | 7 h 51 min |
| Warminster | BA12 | Trowbridge | 7 h 53 min |
| Calne | SN11 | Chippenham | 7 h 50 min |
| Devizes | SN10 | Calne | 7 h 51 min |
| Amesbury | SP4 | Salisbury | 7 h 53 min |
| Bradford-on-Avon | BA15 | Trowbridge | 7 h 51 min |
| Corsham | SN13 | Chippenham | 7 h 50 min |
| Marlborough | SN8 | Swindon | 7 h 50 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.
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.