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With nearly 9,000 installations and growing, it's proof the technology works. But persistent barriers — from upfront costs to poor installation quality — are threatening to stall the momentum.","left","Heat Pumps UK Pros and Cons: What 9,000 Real Installations Reveal","normal",{"image":55,"media_type":56},{"_type":56,"asset":57},"image",{"_ref":58,"_type":59},"image-a52ddf8383176fa82c70a39b6c70ebeb852cdfd2-1408x768-png","reference","large","default",{"_key":63,"_type":64,"content":65,"layout":97},"1e849a66c11a","content_area",{"animate_title":66,"text":67,"title":95,"title_size":96},true,[68,87],{"_key":69,"_type":70,"children":71,"markDefs":86,"style":53},"3fa237eb7cc7","block",[72,77,82],{"_key":73,"_type":74,"marks":75,"text":76},"3429de29061a","span",[],"If you want to see what the future of home heating looks like in Britain, head west. Cornwall has recorded nearly ",{"_key":78,"_type":74,"marks":79,"text":81},"6086a79df162",[80],"strong","9,000 domestic heat pump installations",{"_key":83,"_type":74,"marks":84,"text":85},"3598e6e360c2",[]," since 2014 — the highest figure of any local authority in the UK, outpacing the next closest by a remarkable 40%.",[],{"_key":88,"_type":70,"children":89,"markDefs":94,"style":53},"acb412978784",[90],{"_key":91,"_type":74,"marks":92,"text":93},"c697d46aa1b8",[],"That success wasn't accidental. It was driven by a combination of geographic necessity (more than half of Cornish homes have no mains gas connection), generous government incentives, and an active community of local installers and housing organisations. But a new research report by the Carbon Trust, commissioned by Cornwall Council and the South West Net Zero Hub, reveals that momentum is now at risk — undermined by a set of persistent, interconnected barriers that no single stakeholder can solve alone.",[],"Cornwall: The UK's Unlikely Heat Pump Capital","medium",{"spacing":98,"theme":102},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},"spacing","section-padding-bottom-xs","section-padding-top-xs",{"_type":103,"theme":104},"theme","theme-light bg-white",{"_key":106,"_type":64,"content":107,"layout":120},"b1ebf46122d4",{"animate_title":108,"text":109,"title":118,"title_size":119},false,[110],{"_key":111,"_type":70,"children":112,"markDefs":117,"style":53},"767ae6b9af0e",[113],{"_key":114,"_type":74,"marks":115,"text":116},"71b7349f8a82",[],"Domestic heat pump installations in Cornwall since 2014",[],"~9,000","small",{"align":121,"content_width":122,"spacing":123,"theme":124,"width":126},"align-left","full",{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":125},"theme-light bg-grey","",{"_key":128,"_type":64,"content":129,"layout":140},"d4f83f58b2e3871523f31ed775e8a9cc",{"animate_title":108,"text":130,"title":139,"title_size":119},[131],{"_key":132,"_type":70,"children":133,"markDefs":138,"style":53},"a9c38a7ac6ba",[134],{"_key":135,"_type":74,"marks":136,"text":137},"a391330a1168",[],"Share of Cornwall households with a heat pump — 4th highest in England",[],"3.6%",{"align":141,"content_width":122,"spacing":142,"theme":143,"width":126},"align-right",{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":144},"theme-dark bg-dark",{"_key":146,"_type":64,"content":147,"layout":158},"2df9352b789dab1eabc052a4bae6e5ac",{"animate_title":108,"text":148,"title":157,"title_size":119},[149],{"_key":150,"_type":70,"children":151,"markDefs":156,"style":53},"48c7cbc930c0",[152],{"_key":153,"_type":74,"marks":154,"text":155},"a3fb0e7dca6a",[],"Cornwall homes off the mains gas grid — vs 12% nationally",[],"52%",{"align":141,"content_width":122,"spacing":159,"theme":160,"width":126},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":125},{"_key":162,"_type":64,"content":163,"layout":174},"b4f47bd73af3561971619ed428cd9f9b",{"animate_title":108,"text":164,"title":173,"title_size":119},[165],{"_key":166,"_type":70,"children":167,"markDefs":172,"style":53},"4cdf0222a8db",[168],{"_key":169,"_type":74,"marks":170,"text":171},"c15176db074c",[],"MCS-certified installations in just the first half of 2025",[],"802",{"align":141,"content_width":122,"spacing":175,"theme":176,"width":126},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":144},{"_key":178,"_type":64,"content":179,"layout":229},"16cb87bcf0b9",{"animate_title":108,"text":180,"title":228,"title_size":96},[181,189,197,205,213,221],{"_key":182,"_type":70,"children":183,"markDefs":188,"style":53},"6b249d8daa4e",[184],{"_key":185,"_type":74,"marks":186,"text":187},"2cf234ec1c1b",[],"Understanding why Cornwall leads — and where it struggles — requires appreciating just how unusual its housing and energy landscape is compared to the rest of England.",[],{"_key":190,"_type":70,"children":191,"markDefs":196,"style":53},"c8ab98bd4dd1",[192],{"_key":193,"_type":74,"marks":194,"text":195},"6d2bd75a4d4f",[80],"Off-Gas Is the Norm, Not the Exception",[],{"_key":198,"_type":70,"children":199,"markDefs":204,"style":53},"c2aded4d66f3",[200],{"_key":201,"_type":74,"marks":202,"text":203},"9bf7866f820f",[],"While 88% of English homes are heated by mains gas, only 48% of Cornish homes share that connection. The rest rely on direct electric heating (32%), oil (14%), LPG (4%), or solid fuels. This matters enormously: for these households, a heat pump isn't a green lifestyle choice — it's often the most cost-effective heating option available, particularly with the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant in play.",[],{"_key":206,"_type":70,"children":207,"markDefs":212,"style":53},"93693aed60f3",[208],{"_key":209,"_type":74,"marks":210,"text":211},"ccc9afa02e2a",[80],"Old Homes, Solid Walls, and Coastal Air",[],{"_key":214,"_type":70,"children":215,"markDefs":220,"style":53},"a97026c50739",[216],{"_key":217,"_type":74,"marks":218,"text":219},"e3b0746c7eb5",[],"Around 31% of Cornwall's housing was built before 1930. Granite cottages, Cornish Units with mansard roofs, and non-traditional construction are common. Around 35% of homes have solid walls — a feature that often deters installers in other regions. Add in Cornwall's Atlantic coastline (which accelerates metal corrosion), higher-than-average fuel poverty rates, and dispersed rural communities, and you have a housing stock that is simultaneously ideal for heat pumps and full of technical complications.",[],{"_key":222,"_type":70,"children":223,"markDefs":227,"style":53},"d45499a88976",[224],{"_key":225,"_type":74,"marks":226,"text":126},"6a3279af63a0",[],[],"Why Cornwall Is Different: The Local Context That Matters",{"spacing":230,"theme":231},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":104},{"_key":233,"_type":64,"content":234,"layout":260},"3192b566f97a",{"animate_title":66,"text":235,"title_size":60},[236,245,252],{"_key":237,"_type":70,"children":238,"markDefs":244,"style":53},"5e78da8806e2",[239],{"_key":240,"_type":74,"marks":241,"text":243},"ed85dc1cd372",[242],"em","\"They don't work in old buildings\" is a big myth. We have probably 300 installations now in period properties and they work fantastic.\"",[],{"_key":246,"_type":70,"children":247,"markDefs":251,"style":53},"fff01ac5d8fc",[248],{"_key":249,"_type":74,"marks":250,"text":126},"22c9c36c003c",[242],[],{"_key":253,"_type":70,"children":254,"markDefs":259,"style":53},"795ab975941d",[255],{"_key":256,"_type":74,"marks":257,"text":258},"5a6cd80fb5ab",[242],"— Regional installer, quoted in the Carbon Trust report",[],{"align":141,"content_width":261,"spacing":262,"theme":263,"width":265},"half",{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":264},"bg-accent-500","wrapper--xs",{"_key":267,"_type":64,"content":268,"layout":495},"e3cd70842962",{"animate_title":108,"text":269,"title":494,"title_size":96},[270,278,286,294,302,310,318,326,334,342,350,358,366,374,382,390,398,406,414,422,430,438,446,454,462,470,478,486],{"_key":271,"_type":70,"children":272,"markDefs":277,"style":53},"6056784b8b02",[273],{"_key":274,"_type":74,"marks":275,"text":276},"3e7512a379a1",[],"Through interviews with 21 stakeholders — spanning installers, housing associations, training providers, council officers, and policy experts — researchers identified 12 major barriers, grouped into three tiers by severity and prevalence.",[],{"_key":279,"_type":70,"children":280,"markDefs":285,"style":53},"f399bbd2b0b6",[281],{"_key":282,"_type":74,"marks":283,"text":284},"5ac63c34e080",[],"🔴 Tier 1 — Critical Barriers (raised by nearly all groups)",[],{"_key":287,"_type":70,"children":288,"markDefs":293,"style":53},"f86a568962e3",[289],{"_key":290,"_type":74,"marks":291,"text":292},"cc1e7cf15a0d",[80],"1. High Upfront Installation Costs",[],{"_key":295,"_type":70,"children":296,"markDefs":301,"style":53},"b043add34199",[297],{"_key":298,"_type":74,"marks":299,"text":300},"f73126772b2b",[],"The average air source heat pump in Cornwall costs around £5,800 after the £7,500 BUS grant — still 57% more expensive than a typical gas boiler replacement at £3,700. For social housing providers, the gap is even wider: installations can cost £12,000–£20,000, versus roughly £3,500 for a gas boiler swap. New build developers face an additional £4,000–£7,000 per plot with no offsetting subsidy. While the best-case post-grant price can fall below £2,000 for well-suited properties, this is far from universal.",[],{"_key":303,"_type":70,"children":304,"markDefs":309,"style":53},"de1df0db957a",[305],{"_key":306,"_type":74,"marks":307,"text":308},"c7721408ed6b",[80],"2. Installation Quality and Design",[],{"_key":311,"_type":70,"children":312,"markDefs":317,"style":53},"5f997439e531",[313],{"_key":314,"_type":74,"marks":315,"text":316},"cfaa086aec20",[],"This is arguably the most consequential barrier of all. Stakeholders across every group agreed: when heat pumps underperform, it's almost always the fault of poor design or installation, not the technology. Common failures include incorrect system sizing, radiators and pipework that weren't upgraded for low-temperature operation, poor commissioning, and suboptimal heat pump placement. The performance gap is stark — systems installed under the government's Electrification of Heat trial achieved an average seasonal performance factor (SPF) of 2.81, while enthusiast-installed systems tracked on HeatpumpMonitor.org averaged 3.86 — 37% more efficient, with 26% lower running costs.",[],{"_key":319,"_type":70,"children":320,"markDefs":325,"style":53},"a7f1147e07f4",[321],{"_key":322,"_type":74,"marks":323,"text":324},"27579be122f7",[80],"3. High Running Costs",[],{"_key":327,"_type":70,"children":328,"markDefs":333,"style":53},"31953e72a4e8",[329],{"_key":330,"_type":74,"marks":331,"text":332},"ff8efd21d1d2",[],"In early 2026, electricity costs roughly 4.7 times more per kWh than mains gas. This \"spark gap\" means a heat pump needs to achieve a seasonal performance factor of around 3.97 just to match a gas boiler on running costs — a level that's achievable with excellent installation, but currently rare in practice. For off-gas households (the majority in Cornwall), the economics are considerably more favourable. Time-of-use electricity tariffs, combined with solar PV, can cut running costs by over 50%, but uptake of these tariffs remains patchy, especially among prepayment meter users.",[],{"_key":335,"_type":70,"children":336,"markDefs":341,"style":53},"9b5ef12fbefa",[337],{"_key":338,"_type":74,"marks":339,"text":340},"9f1d1be6d635",[80],"4. Customer Understanding and Education",[],{"_key":343,"_type":70,"children":344,"markDefs":349,"style":53},"3f46a5d984f0",[345],{"_key":346,"_type":74,"marks":347,"text":348},"81805961704b",[],"Heat pumps operate very differently from gas boilers — they work best running continuously at lower temperatures rather than being switched on and off throughout the day. Many householders aren't told this at the point of installation, leading to inefficient usage patterns, higher bills, and complaints. In social housing, tenant turnover compounds the problem: new residents often inherit a heat pump with no handover or guidance. Digital exclusion affects around 20% of over-65s, making online-only education resources inadequate for a significant portion of the population.",[],{"_key":351,"_type":70,"children":352,"markDefs":357,"style":53},"79eb1f9db74e",[353],{"_key":354,"_type":74,"marks":355,"text":356},"3884d75aba6e",[],"🟡 Tier 2 — Significant Barriers (raised by most groups)",[],{"_key":359,"_type":70,"children":360,"markDefs":365,"style":53},"463eaa680781",[361],{"_key":362,"_type":74,"marks":363,"text":364},"d4e2441fc65b",[80],"5. Funding Complexity and Supply Chain Inefficiencies",[],{"_key":367,"_type":70,"children":368,"markDefs":373,"style":53},"7a6d2bc4d429",[369],{"_key":370,"_type":74,"marks":371,"text":372},"ba108a328ebd",[],"Government funding programmes — particularly the now-discontinued ECO4 scheme — were described as a \"baroque tower of different eligibilities,\" creating confusion and risk for everyone in the delivery chain. Layered subcontracting extracts significant margins, with one installer noting that \"too much money is made up the chain, there's just none left for a decent install.\" Large framework contracts also tend to favour national firms over local Cornish businesses, reducing aftercare quality and community accountability.",[],{"_key":375,"_type":70,"children":376,"markDefs":381,"style":53},"cf7f416d105b",[377],{"_key":378,"_type":74,"marks":379,"text":380},"e848ec1763eb",[80],"6. Policy and Funding Uncertainty",[],{"_key":383,"_type":70,"children":384,"markDefs":389,"style":53},"96829ef5d4cb",[385],{"_key":386,"_type":74,"marks":387,"text":388},"a73334ed6dd5",[],"Stop-start funding cycles make long-term planning nearly impossible. Training providers say they cannot run courses speculatively when government funding is confirmed just one year at a time. Even rumours about the BUS ending caused homeowners to delay purchases. Stakeholders repeatedly pointed to the absence of a confirmed end-date for fossil fuel boiler sales as a critical suppressor of demand — removing the sense of urgency that would otherwise drive the market forward.",[],{"_key":391,"_type":70,"children":392,"markDefs":397,"style":53},"d2fdb057d676",[393],{"_key":394,"_type":74,"marks":395,"text":396},"6d598c1b51fe",[80],"7. Installer Training and Skills Gap",[],{"_key":399,"_type":70,"children":400,"markDefs":405,"style":53},"fdfc32c61eb4",[401],{"_key":402,"_type":74,"marks":403,"text":404},"fa6e8db9988f",[],"Cornwall needs an estimated 900 heat pump engineers to meet retrofit and new build demand by 2045, but currently has only around 50–100 active installers. Existing apprenticeship frameworks are still weighted heavily toward gas qualifications, with just one heat pump module included. Local training provision is patchy — one college confirmed it offers no heat pump training at all. Short manufacturer courses (typically one to three days) teach product specs but don't build the low-temperature system design skills that separate a great installation from a mediocre one.",[],{"_key":407,"_type":70,"children":408,"markDefs":413,"style":53},"324b20975bfe",[409],{"_key":410,"_type":74,"marks":411,"text":412},"bae2a86dfc40",[80],"8. Housing Stock Suitability — Myth vs Reality",[],{"_key":415,"_type":70,"children":416,"markDefs":421,"style":53},"f3cb5e9a5b6d",[417],{"_key":418,"_type":74,"marks":419,"text":420},"89948ad7e5cb",[],"A persistent belief — especially among some housing associations — holds that older, poorly insulated properties are unsuitable for heat pumps. Experienced local installers emphatically disagree, citing hundreds of successful installations in pre-1900 granite cottages. The evidence supports them: HeatpumpMonitor.org data shows pre-1900 homes achieving comparable efficiency to modern properties when systems are well designed. The nuance matters though: in poorly insulated homes, a badly installed heat pump carries a greater risk of bill shock than in a well-insulated one, making quality installation even more critical.",[],{"_key":423,"_type":70,"children":424,"markDefs":429,"style":53},"3c2f1886c770",[425],{"_key":426,"_type":74,"marks":427,"text":428},"7331ce25a1ba",[],"🔵 Tier 3 — Context-Specific Barriers (raised by particular groups)",[],{"_key":431,"_type":70,"children":432,"markDefs":437,"style":53},"8a44c8655f00",[433],{"_key":434,"_type":74,"marks":435,"text":436},"90f54c81f3e9",[80],"9. Maintenance, Servicing and Warranty Gaps",[],{"_key":439,"_type":70,"children":440,"markDefs":445,"style":53},"93b2253187be",[441],{"_key":442,"_type":74,"marks":443,"text":444},"91575148fe44",[],"Annual servicing costs for heat pumps (£100–£200) are higher than for gas boilers (£60–£100), and F-gas certification requirements limit who can perform refrigerant-circuit repairs. Some housing associations are concerned that reported heat pump lifespans of 8–12 years are shorter than their 15-year business planning horizons. In practice, well-maintained heat pumps routinely last well over 15 years, and the maintenance market is maturing as the installed base grows.",[],{"_key":447,"_type":70,"children":448,"markDefs":453,"style":53},"16a418e11af6",[449],{"_key":450,"_type":74,"marks":451,"text":452},"8c9016c1ca43",[80],"10. Misinformation and Media Narratives",[],{"_key":455,"_type":70,"children":456,"markDefs":461,"style":53},"30db9924b813",[457],{"_key":458,"_type":74,"marks":459,"text":460},"ceac1246636a",[],"Several tabloid newspapers have run sustained negative coverage of heat pump technology, contributing to public scepticism. Some stakeholders noted that heat pumps have become \"part of a culture war.\" The good news: direct experience is the most powerful antidote. Research by Which? found that homeowners who know someone with a heat pump are nearly twice as likely to consider one themselves — a dynamic that Cornwall's high installation density helps to activate.",[],{"_key":463,"_type":70,"children":464,"markDefs":469,"style":53},"185cf445c02c",[465],{"_key":466,"_type":74,"marks":467,"text":468},"4928b7892e90",[80],"11. Grid Capacity and Network Constraints",[],{"_key":471,"_type":70,"children":472,"markDefs":477,"style":53},"c165c782a7e7",[473],{"_key":474,"_type":74,"marks":475,"text":476},"3d2aa4f3a156",[],"Individual heat pump installations rarely face grid connection issues — the standardisation of homes to 80-amp supplies means most can accommodate a heat pump via a simple \"connect and notify\" process. Clustered retrofit programmes in rural areas require more careful planning, with early engagement with National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) essential to avoid delays caused by reinforcement requirements.",[],{"_key":479,"_type":70,"children":480,"markDefs":485,"style":53},"c7ea7589580c",[481],{"_key":482,"_type":74,"marks":483,"text":484},"6147056721cf",[80],"12. Coastal Corrosion",[],{"_key":487,"_type":70,"children":488,"markDefs":493,"style":53},"ea22589d6252",[489],{"_key":490,"_type":74,"marks":491,"text":492},"772c1df98508",[],"Cornwall's saltwater-laden air can corrode the external units of air source heat pumps, particularly in coastal communities. Early installations — before protective coatings became standard practice — sometimes failed within two to three years, creating lasting local scepticism. Today, aftermarket protective coatings (such as Blygold) add around £300 and have proven highly effective, and several manufacturers now include factory-applied protection as standard. This is essentially a solved problem — provided installers and specifiers apply consistent discipline.",[],"The 12 Barriers Slowing Heat Pump Adoption in Cornwall",{"spacing":496,"theme":497},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":104},{"_key":499,"_type":64,"content":500,"layout":717},"0f21916cc253",{"animate_title":108,"text":501,"title":716,"title_size":96},[502,509,516,524,532,539,547,555,562,570,578,585,593,601,608,616,624,631,639,647,654,662,670,677,685,693,700,708],{"_key":503,"_type":70,"children":504,"markDefs":508,"style":53},"2298fea5b719",[505],{"_key":506,"_type":74,"marks":507,"text":276},"dd57c342dd00",[],[],{"_key":510,"_type":70,"children":511,"markDefs":515,"style":53},"1c1b741e07b0",[512],{"_key":513,"_type":74,"marks":514,"text":126},"81c35332e311",[],[],{"_key":517,"_type":70,"children":518,"markDefs":523,"style":53},"9d6dbd6b1ced",[519],{"_key":520,"_type":74,"marks":521,"text":522},"c7ef80509460",[80],"1.   Build a Regional Consensus on Best Practice",[],{"_key":525,"_type":70,"children":526,"markDefs":531,"style":53},"f0c7299942cc",[527],{"_key":528,"_type":74,"marks":529,"text":530},"dec83334554c",[],"Establish a shared understanding of what constitutes good system design, installation, and commissioning — then embed it in procurement specifications, training programmes, and public guidance. A Cornwall-specific best practice guide covering flow temperatures, emitter sizing, coastal corrosion protection, and commissioning checks would give all stakeholders a common reference point.",[],{"_key":533,"_type":70,"children":534,"markDefs":538,"style":53},"5836d387546b",[535],{"_key":536,"_type":74,"marks":537,"text":126},"ad1ea4fb3857",[],[],{"_key":540,"_type":70,"children":541,"markDefs":546,"style":53},"9ae2d8cfd9e6",[542],{"_key":543,"_type":74,"marks":544,"text":545},"8637b3cd5e8e",[80],"2.  Maximise the Impact of Warm Homes Funding",[],{"_key":548,"_type":70,"children":549,"markDefs":554,"style":53},"0bef134b9706",[550],{"_key":551,"_type":74,"marks":552,"text":553},"043393fd09ef",[],"Use current Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing programmes to embed quality standards and aftercare requirements, break contracts into packages accessible to local firms, and build the track record Cornwall needs to compete for larger integrated funding from 2028.",[],{"_key":556,"_type":70,"children":557,"markDefs":561,"style":53},"d6b94c98c864",[558],{"_key":559,"_type":74,"marks":560,"text":126},"710ed0454e1f",[],[],{"_key":563,"_type":70,"children":564,"markDefs":569,"style":53},"1b8a9f0dfb70",[565],{"_key":566,"_type":74,"marks":567,"text":568},"0c6c57f9b320",[80],"3.  Reframe the Economic Case for Owner-Occupiers",[],{"_key":571,"_type":70,"children":572,"markDefs":577,"style":53},"d15ede4438f0",[573],{"_key":574,"_type":74,"marks":575,"text":576},"77322eaf6a6a",[],"Present costs in context-specific terms: for the 52% of Cornish homes off-gas, the financial case after the BUS grant is often compelling. For gas-connected homes, combined heat pump, solar PV, and battery packages can substantially reduce bills. Community showcases and peer-to-peer events can counter media misinformation through lived experience.",[],{"_key":579,"_type":70,"children":580,"markDefs":584,"style":53},"26125f77ff00",[581],{"_key":582,"_type":74,"marks":583,"text":126},"e168d1009946",[],[],{"_key":586,"_type":70,"children":587,"markDefs":592,"style":53},"acbbe67ff7e0",[588],{"_key":589,"_type":74,"marks":590,"text":591},"510d2d1d67a0",[80],"4.  Improve Heat Pump User Education at Every Touchpoint",[],{"_key":594,"_type":70,"children":595,"markDefs":600,"style":53},"510bd4c67bcf",[596],{"_key":597,"_type":74,"marks":598,"text":599},"539cb1c21d53",[],"Coordinate education through energy advice services, social housing tenant liaison, community energy groups, and the envisaged Cornwall Retrofit Hub. Develop standardised, accessible guidance — covering efficient operation, recommended tariffs, and common mistakes — in formats that reach digitally excluded residents.",[],{"_key":602,"_type":70,"children":603,"markDefs":607,"style":53},"2a0fee70135b",[604],{"_key":605,"_type":74,"marks":606,"text":126},"e37556a76e3b",[],[],{"_key":609,"_type":70,"children":610,"markDefs":615,"style":53},"73971a0323d9",[611],{"_key":612,"_type":74,"marks":613,"text":614},"0fe2fad6b51f",[80],"5.  Drive Consistent Installation Quality",[],{"_key":617,"_type":70,"children":618,"markDefs":623,"style":53},"8a59530056b4",[619],{"_key":620,"_type":74,"marks":621,"text":622},"9873dba8192b",[],"Adopt procurement specifications that go beyond minimum MCS requirements, mandate remote performance monitoring, promote performance guarantee models, and involve manufacturers and wholesalers in shaping installer standards across the supply chain.",[],{"_key":625,"_type":70,"children":626,"markDefs":630,"style":53},"628b84be3c64",[627],{"_key":628,"_type":74,"marks":629,"text":126},"9572842e0e83",[],[],{"_key":632,"_type":70,"children":633,"markDefs":638,"style":53},"9ab4d207739e",[634],{"_key":635,"_type":74,"marks":636,"text":637},"ae6953c84608",[80],"6.  Develop the Supply Chain, Skills, and Training",[],{"_key":640,"_type":70,"children":641,"markDefs":646,"style":53},"69c1ed3307af",[642],{"_key":643,"_type":74,"marks":644,"text":645},"73960a12bc5f",[],"Convene Cornwall's training providers, colleges, and leading installers to develop a coordinated strategy that covers the full workforce spectrum and creates accelerated upskilling pathways for experienced tradespeople transitioning from gas.",[],{"_key":648,"_type":70,"children":649,"markDefs":653,"style":53},"689844839030",[650],{"_key":651,"_type":74,"marks":652,"text":126},"e1652a612ebe",[],[],{"_key":655,"_type":70,"children":656,"markDefs":661,"style":53},"c2b783b2fd8a",[657],{"_key":658,"_type":74,"marks":659,"text":660},"bd9e80dbe23d",[80],"7.  Develop Heat Pump Transition Plans for Social Housing",[],{"_key":663,"_type":70,"children":664,"markDefs":669,"style":53},"4eea324f1e51",[665],{"_key":666,"_type":74,"marks":667,"text":668},"cd0694ca7210",[],"Social landlords should build long-term plans aligning asset management with MEES timelines, prioritise off-gas properties for heat pump replacement, combine low-cost fabric measures with installations, and invest comprehensively in tenant engagement throughout the tenancy lifecycle.",[],{"_key":671,"_type":70,"children":672,"markDefs":676,"style":53},"784289714b20",[673],{"_key":674,"_type":74,"marks":675,"text":126},"dfd5fa058a1b",[],[],{"_key":678,"_type":70,"children":679,"markDefs":684,"style":53},"2e1af1afb8dc",[680],{"_key":681,"_type":74,"marks":682,"text":683},"e3a1948e7a7b",[80],"8.  Accelerate High-Performing Deployment in the Private Rented Sector",[],{"_key":686,"_type":70,"children":687,"markDefs":692,"style":53},"1ffe6ee6ad3f",[688],{"_key":689,"_type":74,"marks":690,"text":691},"e25f6991c952",[],"Use the forthcoming requirement for all rented properties to reach EPC Band C by 2030 as both a compliance driver and an engagement tool. Establish a dedicated PRS support stream, deepen collaboration with the Cornwall Residential Landlords Association, and pilot block retrofit schemes in PRS clusters to demonstrate feasibility.",[],{"_key":694,"_type":70,"children":695,"markDefs":699,"style":53},"747596d2024a",[696],{"_key":697,"_type":74,"marks":698,"text":126},"af45f26ea0dd",[],[],{"_key":701,"_type":70,"children":702,"markDefs":707,"style":53},"dc1cc0cb0e5e",[703],{"_key":704,"_type":74,"marks":705,"text":706},"506ea718bf3c",[242],"The most critical factor in achieving high heat pump performance is not the age or insulation level of a home — it's the quality of system design and commissioning. Heat pumps can perform well in virtually any property when installed correctly.",[],{"_key":709,"_type":70,"children":710,"markDefs":715,"style":53},"dc87824a3c16",[711],{"_key":712,"_type":74,"marks":713,"text":714},"fe8cd560ff43",[242],"— Carbon Trust / South West Net Zero Hub, 2026",[],"What Needs to Happen Next: 8 Key Recommendations",{"spacing":718,"theme":720},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":108,"include_section_padding_top":108,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":719},"section-padding-top",{"_type":103,"theme":104},{"_key":722,"_type":723,"layout":724,"new_images":727,"new_modal_images":733},"5f2b2e0228c9","images",{"images_style":725,"spacing":726},"grid",{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},[728],{"_key":729,"_type":56,"alt":730,"asset":731},"f4608bae9269","series of heat pump installed",{"_ref":732,"_type":59},"image-7468c483cab6e4bf7d917ba0b392fa2ee18576d9-3840x2160-jpg",[734,739],{"_key":735,"_type":56,"alt":736,"asset":737},"9944608a82d8","newly installed heat pump",{"_ref":738,"_type":59},"image-cf83c8dbab840f262b51a05d80357ac8517c7207-6240x4160-jpg",{"_key":740,"_type":56,"alt":741,"asset":742},"476c9c93d546","heat pump",{"_ref":743,"_type":59},"image-70f0b6005331ed5941fa4cdb810ab42b6ca55414-5918x3965-jpg",{"_key":745,"_type":746,"accordion":747,"content":833,"layout":835},"8f7ef6f40226","accordion",[748,761,773,785,797,809,821],{"_key":749,"_type":750,"text":751,"title":760},"140fe68710b7","accordion_item",[752],{"_key":753,"_type":70,"children":754,"markDefs":759,"style":53},"e76e9de00801",[755],{"_key":756,"_type":74,"marks":757,"text":758},"26913db72021",[],"Yes — evidence from real-world monitoring data shows that pre-1900 properties achieve comparable heat pump efficiency to modern homes when systems are correctly designed, installed, and commissioned. The key variable is installation quality, not building age. That said, poorly insulated homes leave less margin for error: a badly designed system in a leaky home will result in higher bills than the same mistake in a well-insulated one. Fabric improvements remain valuable for reducing heat demand and improving comfort, but they are not a prerequisite for heat pump installation.",[],"Do heat pumps work in old or poorly insulated homes?",{"_key":762,"_type":750,"text":763,"title":772},"a4903f6bbd4e",[764],{"_key":765,"_type":70,"children":766,"markDefs":771,"style":53},"3bba0e1b650b",[767],{"_key":768,"_type":74,"marks":769,"text":770},"0d6adedeeced",[],"The average air source heat pump installation in Cornwall costs around £5,800 after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grant — roughly 57% more than a typical gas boiler replacement. In the best-case scenario (straightforward off-gas property, efficient design), total post-grant costs can fall below £2,000. Ground source and water source heat pumps cost significantly more, averaging around £17,100 after the BUS grant. Costs have remained broadly stable since 2021 despite increasing deployment volumes.",[],"How much does a heat pump cost in Cornwall after government grants?",{"_key":774,"_type":750,"text":775,"title":784},"ea09219c7d84",[776],{"_key":777,"_type":70,"children":778,"markDefs":783,"style":53},"b719a3d78386",[779],{"_key":780,"_type":74,"marks":781,"text":782},"aca0949d8668",[],"It depends on the quality of the installation and the fuel being replaced. In early 2026, electricity costs about 4.7 times more per kWh than mains gas, meaning a heat pump needs to run at high efficiency (an SPF of around 3.97) just to match gas on bills. For homes heated by oil, LPG, or direct electricity — which represent the majority of Cornwall's housing — heat pumps are generally cheaper to run. Time-of-use tariffs combined with solar PV can cut running costs by over 50%. The risk of high bills is real but is almost always linked to poor installation or incorrect usage, not an inherent flaw in the technology.",[],"Are heat pump running costs higher than gas?",{"_key":786,"_type":750,"text":787,"title":796},"116bed00dc04",[788],{"_key":789,"_type":70,"children":790,"markDefs":795,"style":53},"28de6a991b28",[791],{"_key":792,"_type":74,"marks":793,"text":794},"04f5d7a60e5c",[],"The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a UK government grant that provides £7,500 towards the cost of installing an air source heat pump or £7,500 for a ground source heat pump. It's available to homeowners in England and Wales who are replacing a fossil fuel heating system. Applications are made through your chosen MCS-certified installer, who handles the claim on your behalf. The grant is deducted from your installation quote, so you pay the net amount directly. Check the current availability and eligibility rules via GOV.UK, as scheme details may change.",[],"What is the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and how do I apply?",{"_key":798,"_type":750,"text":799,"title":808},"e1e26cfd6d84",[800],{"_key":801,"_type":70,"children":802,"markDefs":807,"style":53},"305f1c45b19d",[803],{"_key":804,"_type":74,"marks":805,"text":806},"690f4b895302",[],"Yes, but coastal locations require specific specification care. Salt-laden air can accelerate corrosion of the external heat pump unit. Early installations that lacked protective coatings sometimes failed within a few years, creating local scepticism about the technology. Today, aftermarket protective coatings (such as Blygold) add around £300 and provide effective long-term protection. Some manufacturers now include salt-air protection as standard. Always confirm that your installer specifies appropriate coastal protection — this is now a well-understood and solved problem.",[],"Are heat pumps suitable for coastal properties in Cornwall?",{"_key":810,"_type":750,"text":811,"title":820},"84170f6fb481",[812],{"_key":813,"_type":70,"children":814,"markDefs":819,"style":53},"bb02d15005bc",[815],{"_key":816,"_type":74,"marks":817,"text":818},"cff714e7cdac",[],"The UK Government is expected to require all private rented properties to achieve an EPC Band C rating by 2030. Heat pumps installed as part of a planned retrofit programme can count towards compliance. Landlords can access the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for eligible properties, and emerging support through the Cornwall Retrofit Hub should provide tailored advice on installer selection, funding options, and tenant communication. Acting early typically means lower costs and a wider choice of contractors than waiting for a compliance deadline. The Cornwall Residential Landlords Association (CRLA) is a useful point of contact for local guidance.",[],"I'm a private landlord in Cornwall. What do I need to know about heat pumps?",{"_key":822,"_type":750,"text":823,"title":832},"e8d84a3d6279",[824],{"_key":825,"_type":70,"children":826,"markDefs":831,"style":53},"765bc7724210",[827],{"_key":828,"_type":74,"marks":829,"text":830},"31ea4fb66089",[],"All installers working under government grant schemes must be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). You can search for local MCS-certified installers at mcscertified.com. Beyond certification, look for installers who carry out a proper heat loss assessment before quoting, explain their system design choices (including how they're sizing emitters and setting flow temperatures), provide clear commissioning documentation, and offer follow-up support. Multiple quotes are advisable. Community Energy Plus (CEP) and the forthcoming Cornwall Retrofit Hub are local resources that can provide independent guidance.",[],"How can I find a good heat pump installer in Cornwall?",{"title":834},"Frequently Asked Questions",{"spacing":836,"theme":837},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":66,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":101},{"_type":103,"theme":104},{"_key":839,"_type":64,"content":840,"layout":867},"cc223a5ea604",{"animate_title":108,"text":841,"title":866,"title_size":96},[842,850,858],{"_key":843,"_type":70,"children":844,"markDefs":849,"style":53},"d829263a8a88",[845],{"_key":846,"_type":74,"marks":847,"text":848},"19ae72560b92",[],"Cornwall's heat pump story is ultimately one of demonstrated possibility. Nearly 9,000 homes have already made the switch, and the evidence is clear: when heat pumps are designed and installed well, they deliver efficient, reliable, affordable warmth — in granite cottages and newbuilds alike.",[],{"_key":851,"_type":70,"children":852,"markDefs":857,"style":53},"deaa92d8a31c",[853],{"_key":854,"_type":74,"marks":855,"text":856},"7a4f839f6c33",[],"The barriers are real, but most have known solutions. What's needed now is coordinated action: better procurement standards, more consistent installer training, stronger user education, targeted support for social housing and private landlords, and — above all — the kind of policy certainty that gives every actor in the system the confidence to plan, invest, and grow.",[],{"_key":859,"_type":70,"children":860,"markDefs":865,"style":53},"93e39676ecd7",[861],{"_key":862,"_type":74,"marks":863,"text":864},"307d16d62eee",[],"With 52% of its homes already off-gas and a thriving local installer community, Cornwall has a structural advantage. The task now is to consolidate it — and ensure the benefits of clean, efficient heating reach every community across the county by 2045.",[],"The Bottom Line",{"spacing":868,"theme":869},{"_type":99,"include_section_padding_bottom":66,"include_section_padding_top":108,"section_padding_bottom":100,"section_padding_top":719},{"_type":103,"theme":104},"Cornwall leads the UK in heat pump adoption. Explore the real barriers slowing deployment and the evidence-backed solutions that could unlock clean heating for every home.",{"_type":56,"asset":872},{"_ref":58,"_type":59},{"meta_description":874,"meta_title":875},"authority. Learn what barriers are slowing the rollout, what experts say, and how to accelerate low-carbon heating for homeowners, landlords, and social housing providers.","Cornwall has nearly 9,000 heat pump installations",{"_type":877,"current":878},"slug","heat-pumps-uk-pros-and-cons","Heat Pumps UK Pros and Cons","Builder Cornwall",[882],{"logos":883,"navigation_items":927},[884,891,897,903,909,915,921],{"_key":885,"_type":886,"alt":887,"image":888},"f60248ee0661","logo","Wild Kernow",{"_type":56,"asset":889},{"_ref":890,"_type":59},"image-469f63e547d1ac942bf06073a1e11857b5b40435-156x156-png",{"_key":892,"_type":886,"alt":893,"image":894},"c5d3ced3cf51","Passivhaus",{"_type":56,"asset":895},{"_ref":896,"_type":59},"image-ae32d3e25752bf38c75fc9ced7d04bc9ebd14423-197x156-png",{"_key":898,"_type":886,"alt":899,"image":900},"ba9469a4c4a8","AECB",{"_type":56,"asset":901},{"_ref":902,"_type":59},"image-4216c72a55a6ccc2fb9419578f1ffb4f9790851b-193x108-png",{"_key":904,"_type":886,"alt":905,"image":906},"b1496fee8ac6","millboard installers",{"_type":56,"asset":907},{"_ref":908,"_type":59},"image-087c3235662d71cf2717c479abdb22733d9ff086-280x100-png",{"_key":910,"_type":886,"alt":911,"image":912},"4f433012f9cf","Trustmark",{"_type":56,"asset":913},{"_ref":914,"_type":59},"image-2899ee5743fa96d72db2c6d48a9c615a6c395ffe-259x56-png",{"_key":916,"_type":886,"alt":917,"image":918},"dde59ef3e607","Tradesperson",{"_type":56,"asset":919},{"_ref":920,"_type":59},"image-b929d3e49b3255f4e2c6186b066997496dd54e9c-155x156-png",{"_key":922,"_type":886,"alt":923,"image":924},"d68497325d53","Master builders",{"_type":56,"asset":925},{"_ref":926,"_type":59},"image-477ee60ed84cec23fd456599ef0c6a5e543eb9de-92x156-png",[928,936,942,947,950],{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":931,"page_label":935},null,"page",{"slug":932,"title":934},{"_type":877,"current":933},"/","Home ","Home",{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":937,"page_label":941},{"slug":938,"title":940},{"_type":877,"current":939},"faq","FAQs","Projects",{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":943,"page_label":929},{"slug":944,"title":946},{"_type":877,"current":945},"about","About",{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":948,"page_label":929},{"slug":949,"title":940},{"_type":877,"current":939},{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":951,"page_label":954},{"slug":952,"title":953},{"_type":877,"current":20},"Contact","Get in touch",[956],{"navigation_items":957},[958,962,967,970],{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":959,"page_label":941},{"slug":960,"title":941},{"_type":877,"current":961},"projects",{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":963,"page_label":966},{"slug":964,"title":966},{"_type":877,"current":965},"services","Services",{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":968,"page_label":929},{"slug":969,"title":940},{"_type":877,"current":939},{"external":929,"external_label":929,"link_type":930,"page":971,"page_label":953},{"slug":972,"title":953},{"_type":877,"current":20},[974],{"navigation_items":929},[976],{"_createdAt":5,"_id":6,"_rev":7,"_system":977,"_type":6,"_updatedAt":11,"office_address":979,"office_contact":980,"office_hours":981},{"base":978},{"id":6,"rev":10},{"_type":13,"city":14,"country":15,"name_number":16,"postcode":17,"street":18},{"_type":20,"email":21,"instagram":22,"phone":23},[982],{"_key":26,"_type":27,"day":28,"times":29},1779293161507]