Following research published by the Resolution Foundation which found heat pump installations are being outpaced by gas boiler fittings, Ellie Chowns MP said: “The fact that gas boilers outnumbered heat pump installations by more than 15 to one last year is yet another wake-up call. If we’re serious about meeting our climate targets, we need a rapid and fair transition away from gas heating—and right now, we’re miles off track. Heat pump installations are being completely outpaced by gas boiler fittings, and new homes are still being locked into fossil fuel systems that will require costly retrofits down the line.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. The heat pump industry represents a huge opportunity to create well-paid green jobs, cut carbon, and bring down bills—but only if the government steps up with a bold industrial strategy to make it happen.
“That means implementing the Future Homes Standard without further delay, ending the default installation of gas boilers in new builds. It also means fixing our broken energy market. The current system unfairly penalises clean electricity with levies, making heat pumps more expensive to run than gas boilers—even though they’re far more efficient. Shifting those levies onto gas would save households hundreds of pounds and help unlock mass adoption. And it means properly targeted support for low-income households so no one is priced out of the transition.
“Right now, poorer families are being left behind, while the government delays essential regulations and clings to outdated policies. This isn’t just bad for the planet—it’s bad for people. Offering top-up grants, as the Resolution Foundation recommends, would make the transition to clean heating affordable for those who need it most.
“The time for dithering is over. We need the government that prioritises warm homes, lower bills, and a thriving green economy—for everyone, not just the wealthy few.”