UK government boost for heat pumps

UK: The UK government has announced a boost for heat pumps with an extra £30m for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the relaxing of planning application rules.

The boost for heat pumps is amongst a number of changes to the government’s Warm Homes Plan announced today.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump, receives an extra £30m for this financial year, and a virtual doubling of the budget to £295m for the next financial year.  

More households in England will also be able to install an air-source heat pump without the need to submit a planning application from early next year, by removing the rule requiring them to be installed at least 1m from a property’s boundary. 

In addition, the government insists a reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism from 1 April 2025 will ensure manufacturers have the time they need to scale up supply chains, making heat pumps an even more attractive choice for households and boosting sales without penalising those buying a new gas boiler. 

There will also be government support available for each and every heat pump installation that is required under the mechanism in 2025-26. 

Applauding the new package of measures, Heat Pump Association CEO Charlotte Lee said: “We welcome the clarity provided to the market on the long-anticipated Clean Heat Market Mechanism and the confirmation of additional funds for the BUS, both of which enable the sector to invest with confidence. The changes to the Permitted Development Rights will help to streamline the heat pump installation process for installers and consumers and support an accelerated deployment of heat pumps over the coming years.”

“The confirmation of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism is a positive step for the sector and the changes to support the scaling up of the industry address concerns previously expressed,” commented MCS CEO Ian Rippin. He welcomed the additional funding to the BUS and looked forward to the scheme “continuing to grow and expand”.