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In Plymouth the average household spends £696 a year on heating — 28% lower than the UK average of £960. Typical homes are 70.0 m² with 3.8 rooms. The local population is around 35,312 residents (Census 2021). Switching to an air-source heat pump could save up to £278 a year for an average home after the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.


Areas covered

Lipson, Mount Gould, Mutley, Greenbank, Prince Rock, St. Judes, Barbican (north)

See more in the PL area hub.

Typical air-source heat-pump installation costs range from about £6,000 at the low end to roughly £18,000 at the high end. Most homes fall somewhere between £7,000 and £15,000. These prices are before the £7,500 BUS grant (in addition, qualifying rural and island homes in Scotland may receive a further £1,500 uplift under the Home Energy Scotland scheme, for up to £9 000 of grant funding).

Installation costs in Plymouth are around 10% higher than the UK average.

CategoryNational cost range Adjusted for PL4 (×1.10) Net after £7,500 BUS grant
Small flats / simple installs £ 6,000 – £ 7,000 £ 6,600 – £ 7,700 from ~£ 1,000*
2–3-bed semis / moderate upgrades £ 8,000 – £ 12,000 £ 8,800 – £ 13,200 £ 1,300 – £ 5,700
Large detached / extensive work £ 13,000 – £ 18,000 £ 14,300 – £ 19,800 £ 6,800 – £ 12,300

* Minimum net costs rarely fall below £1,000 after grant, since most installs incur at least minor extra work.

Lower end
  • Minimal groundwork or plumbing modification required
  • Well-insulated homes that only need a compact ASHP unit
Mid end
  • Moderate radiator or underfloor-heating upgrades
  • Typical pump size (8–12 kW)
Upper end
  • Large detached houses or older properties needing major pipework
  • Extensive insulation or radiator replacement
  • Multi-zone controls and bespoke system design

Heat pump FAQs

How much does a heat pump cost here?

About £4,233 for a typical 3-bedroom home after the £7,500 grant.

How much can I save on heating bills?

Roughly £278 per year for the average home at current price-cap rates.

  • £696 Average Heating Cost UK avg £960
  • 70.0 m² Median Floor Area UK avg 84.7 m²
  • 3.8 Average Rooms UK avg 4

Local energy snapshot

Latest tariff window: 2025Q4

Ofgem region & price cap

South Western · 26.82p/kWh · 54.03p/day

PV potential (south-facing)

1,087 kWh per kWp/year

Dwelling mix

House 38.3% Flat 56.6% Bungalow 0.7% Detached 4.3% Semi-detached 10.2% Terraced 79.9%

EPC certificates

12,734 on record

Ready to get started?

Blue Ape Renewables will handle your free quote and £7,500 grant application

Get Free Quote & Grant Help →

MCS certified • Grant application handled • 4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy partner

Also in Your Area: Solar Panel Potential

Heat pumps increase electricity usage. Solar panels can offset your higher bills.

Without heat pump:

Solar saves ~£1,091/year
Payback: 11.2 years

With heat pump:

Solar saves ~£1,311/year
Payback: 9.3 years

  • Typical system 6 kW
  • Installation cost ~£12,200
  • Annual generation 6,523 kWh

See detailed solar data for PL4 →

Data from our sister site, Solar By Postcode UK

Compare nearby areas: PL1 (Plymouth) · PL2 (Plymouth) · PL3 (Plymouth) · PL5 (South Hams, Plymouth) · PL6 (South Hams, West Devon, Plymouth) · PL7 (South Hams, West Devon, Plymouth)

Heat Pump Installation & Ownership Guide

Everything you need to know

Installation Timeline

1
Initial Quote & Survey 1-2 weeks
MCS-certified installer visits to assess your property, calculate heat loss, and provide detailed quote
📋
Heat loss calculation
📏
Property measurements
💡
System design proposal
💰
Fixed price quote
2
Planning & Permits 0-2 weeks (formal planning ≈ 8 weeks for listed / conservation properties)
Most properties need no planning permission thanks to 2025 rule changes
✓
No boundary restrictions (new rules)
🏠
Permitted development rights
📋
Building regulations notification
🔧
MCS compliance check
3
Installation 1-3 days
Professional installation of outdoor unit, indoor components, and system integration
🔧
Outdoor unit mounting
🔌
Electrical connections
🔄
System commissioning
📱
Smart controls setup
4
Certification & Grant typically 1-2 weeks
MCS certificate issued, building control sign-off, and £7,500 grant processed
📜
MCS commissioning certificate
🏛️
Building control approval
💰
BUS grant payment
📋
Warranty registration
∞
Ongoing Ownership 15-20 years
Minimal maintenance required - annual service and basic upkeep for optimal performance
🔧
Annual service: £150-300
🧹
Filter cleaning (DIY)
❄️
Winter prep checks
📊
Performance monitoring

Planning Permission Requirements

No Permission Needed

Standard Properties

    ✅ Detached, semi-detached, terraced houses
    ✅ Unit size up to 1 m³ (increased from 0.6 m³)
    ✅ No 1-meter boundary rule (removed 2025)
    ✅ Up to 2 units for detached houses
    ✅ Noise limit: 37 dB at neighbor's window

Check Required

Special Circumstances

    ⚠️ Listed buildings
    ⚠️ Conservation areas
    ⚠️ World Heritage sites
    ⚠️ Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
    ⚠️ Flats and maisonettes

Maintenance & Ownership Costs

£150-300
Annual Service
£0-50
Filter Replacement
15-20
Years Lifespan
5-10
Years Warranty
💡 Maintenance Tip: Regular servicing prevents up to 25% efficiency loss. Annual services typically pay for themselves in energy savings and prevent costly repairs.

Official Heat Pump Resources & Data Sources

📋 Regulatory & Grants

  • Ofgem Energy Price Cap
    Official cap figures, update timetable and how rates are calculated.
    Visit Official Site ↗
  • Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
    Grant rules, eligibility checker and application steps.
    Visit Official Site ↗
  • Permitted-Development Rules for Heat Pumps
    Full legal criteria (noise ≤ 42 dB(A), unit volume ≤ 1 m³, siting, listed-building caveats).
    Visit Official Site ↗
  • Planning & Noise Guidance (DESNZ)
    Plain-language tips on boundary distances and acoustic tests.
    Visit Official Site ↗

💰 Cost, Savings & Best Practice

  • Energy Saving Trust – Air-Source Heat Pump Advice
    Running-cost calculators, sizing tips and maintenance basics.
    Visit Official Site ↗
  • MCS Best-Practice Heat Pump Guide (PDF)
    Detailed but homeowner-friendly design and installation standards.
    Download PDF ↗
  • Find an MCS-Certified Installer
    Search tool to verify local companies before you request quotes.
    Search Installers ↗
  • Delta-ee / BEIS Cost Study (2020)
    Benchmark install prices we reference in our calculator.
    View Study (PDF) ↗

📊 Data Transparency & Carbon

  • Census 2021 Postcode Resident & Household Data
    Source for the local population figures on our sector pages.
    View Data Source ↗
  • National Grid Carbon Intensity Live Data
    Real-time CO₂ per kWh; underpins our carbon-saving estimate in the calculator.
    View Live Data ↗
  • Department for Energy Security and Net Zero - Heat Pump Trends
    Quarterly data on the number of heat pumps installed in the United Kingdom.
    View Statistics ↗