Guide · Grants
Heat pumps and grants for listed buildings
The grant is available. The consent process is the real hurdle.
Listed buildings in England and Wales can claim the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, and listed properties are exempt from the usual EPC insulation-recommendation requirement where the recommendations would harm the building’s character (GOV.UK, 2026). Listed building consent from the local authority is normally required before an outdoor unit can be fitted.
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Consent, not just planning
Listed building consent is separate from planning permission and is required for works affecting character, inside or out. Conservation officers usually focus on where the unit is visible from, how pipework penetrates historic fabric, and whether the work is reversible.
Applications succeed far more often when the unit is sited out of public view, screened with a traditional-material enclosure, and pipe routes use existing openings.
Design choices that help approval
- Locate the unit in a rear courtyard, behind an outbuilding or below eaves lines.
- Use a slatted timber enclosure that matches existing joinery.
- Route pipework through existing service holes; avoid new penetrations in ashlar or dressed stone.
- Keep the cylinder in an existing cupboard rather than forming new openings.
- Provide an acoustic assessment showing compliance with the MCS noise standard.
Fabric-first, sympathetically
Secondary glazing, loft insulation between joists, and draught sealing to sash windows are usually acceptable in listed properties and cut the heat pump size you need. Wall insulation is more contentious and should be discussed with the conservation officer before design work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a listed building have a heat pump?
- Yes, with listed building consent. Siting and screening of the outdoor unit are the main considerations.
- Do listed buildings qualify for the £7,500 grant?
- Yes, and the usual requirement to act on EPC insulation recommendations can be waived where the work would harm the building’s character.
- How long does listed building consent take?
- Typically eight weeks from a valid application, though pre-application advice from the conservation officer often shortens the process overall.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme — GOV.UK — Official guidance on the £7,500 BUS grant in England and Wales.
- MCS Certified — Installer certification scheme required for grant eligibility.
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