UK housebuilder adopts heat pumps as standard

FTSE 250-listed Redrow has committed to installing air source heat pumps in every new development from this month as it ditches traditional gas boilers.

The move, an industry first among large UK housebuilders, comes ahead of the proposed ban on boilers in newbuilds from 2025.

Redrow is working with Mitsubishi, Vaillant and Daiken on the installations. A year-long heat pump trial by Mitsubishi Electric showed that the technology operates at an efficiency of two to three times that of an A-rated boiler.

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Having made its homes increasingly efficient through the use of better fabric, the housebuilder said that heat pumps will have the biggest impact to date on the efficiency of its homes.

Matthew Pratt, CEO of Redrow, said: “Redrow is committed to further improving the energy efficiency of our homes while maintaining our reputation for best in class build quality and design. We will shortly go above and beyond regulatory requirements, future proofing our homes and helping our customers lower their energy use.

“The move to air source heat pumps will ensure our future homes are ‘zero carbon ready’ for when the grid is decarbonised and supports our goal of achieving science-based net-zero emissions no later than 2050 across our operations, homes and supply chains.”

Heat pumps win government backing

Redrow’s announcement follows a recent UK government decision to require oil and gas boiler manufacturers to sell heat pumps as a growing proportion of total boiler sales.

By doing so, the government hopes make switching from gas boilers more attractive and affordable for more people, thereby providing the market with “the clarity and confidence to invest in opportunities to expand the low-carbon heating market in the UK”.

The UK Green Building Council welcomed the decision, calling it a scalable approach to stimulating supply, demand and innovation in the sector.

Louise Hutchins, head of policy and public affairs at the organisation, added: “We’re in a race against time on climate change, yet oil and gas boilers still vastly outnumber heat pumps. The government should match its plans to accelerate sales of cleaner heating solutions with other measures to promote energy efficiency, such as a stamp duty incentive linked to energy performance and green loans.”