Air source heat pumps in Gillingham
Air source heat pumps in Gillingham
Gillingham is a growing Blackmore Vale market town, with lots of new homes on its edges and farms and villages around it that are often off the gas grid. We pass your enquiry to up to 3 vetted local installers.
- Typical cost
- £10,500 to £15,500
- fitted, before grant
- Grant
- £7,500
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme, taken off your quote
- Yearly saving vs oil
- £100 to £450
- more if you are on LPG
- MCS certified installers
- No more than 3 quotes
- No hard sell
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Air source heat pumps in Gillingham: what to know
Gillingham's new build homes are often well insulated, which makes them good candidates for a heat pump, and some already have one. Older terraces in the town centre need more checks, especially for outdoor unit space and noise near neighbours. Farms and villages on oil or LPG usually see the strongest savings, supported by the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
Local homes
Gillingham has grown fast in recent decades, with large new build estates, including a major southern extension, alongside an older town centre of Victorian brick terraces and cottages. The surrounding Blackmore Vale has farmhouses, converted barns, bungalows and village homes.
Typical roofs
New build homes usually have simple tiled roofs facing a mix of directions, which are easy to fit with panels. Older town centre terraces have smaller roofs, while rural barns and outbuildings can offer large, unshaded spaces.
Conservation and planning
Gillingham's older town centre has a conservation area, but most of the town's newer housing faces few planning restrictions. Cranborne Chase National Landscape lies to the east, which can matter for larger rural installations.
Weather and setting
Gillingham is inland in the Blackmore Vale, so salt air is not an issue. Several small rivers, including the Stour and the Shreen Water, run through the area, and some low lying spots carry flood risk.
A growing Blackmore Vale town
Gillingham has changed a lot in recent decades. The old town centre, with its Victorian brick terraces, cottages and shops around the High Street, is now surrounded by large new build estates, and a major southern extension is adding many more homes. The town’s mainline railway station makes it popular with commuters.
Beyond the town, the Blackmore Vale opens out into dairy farms, villages and hamlets, many of them off the gas grid.
New build homes: an easy place to start
If you live on one of Gillingham’s newer estates, you have a head start. Modern homes are well insulated, with simple roofs and driveways, which makes solar panels, a battery and an EV charger straightforward to install. Some of the newest homes may already have panels or a heat pump fitted by the developer, so check what you have before getting quotes.
Families who are out during the day often get the most from adding a battery to store solar power for the evening.
The older town centre
Gillingham’s older streets have Victorian terraces and cottages. Roofs are smaller and outdoor space is tighter, so placing a heat pump unit needs more thought, especially if you share walls with neighbours. Parking can also be limited, which affects whether a home charger is possible. Solar is still worth a look on a terrace: even a small south or west facing roof can cut daytime bills, and your installer can tell you how many panels fit.
Farms and villages off the gas grid
Around Gillingham, many homes use oil or LPG. These properties often see the biggest savings from a heat pump, and the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant helps with the cost. Farms and rural homes may also have barns or outbuildings that can take larger solar arrays. Lower income households may qualify for extra help through Dorset Council, such as ECO4 or Warm Homes: Local Grant.
Ask each installer whether your home has existing kit, how they will size the system for your use and where any outdoor unit will go. Then use our estimate tool or request quotes from up to 3 vetted local installers.
Costs
How much do an air source heat pump cost in Gillingham?
The price depends on the size of heat pump your home needs and whether any radiators or pipework need upgrading.
| What | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Smaller home (up to about 6 kW) | £10,000 to £12,500 |
| Typical semi or detached (7 to 10 kW) | £11,000 to £14,500 |
| Larger or older detached (11 kW plus) | £13,500 to £18,000 |
| Possible radiator upgrades | £500 to £3,500 |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant | minus £7,500 |
Typical ranges for guidance only. Your installer's survey sets the real price.
Savings
What could you save?
A well designed heat pump delivers around 3 units of heat for every unit of electricity it uses. That is why it can beat oil and LPG on running costs.
Switching from oil typically changes running costs by £100 to £450 a year in your favour, and from LPG by £300 to £1,050.
Coming off mains gas, the saving is smaller and depends on your tariff. Adding solar, or choosing a heat pump tariff, makes a real difference.
Grants and help
Grants for an air source heat pump in Gillingham
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (£7,500)
Available in England and Wales when replacing gas, oil, LPG or electric heating. Homes on oil or LPG with no mains gas can get £9,000 until March 2027. Your MCS certified installer applies for it and takes it off your quote.
0% VAT
Heat pumps have 0% VAT on residential installs until 31 March 2027.
Warm Homes and ECO schemes
Lower income households may qualify for extra help through Dorset Council, BCP Council or energy company schemes.
Is it right for your home?
Pros of an air source heat pump
- £7,500 grant off the price
- Lower running costs than oil, LPG or electric heaters
- No fuel deliveries, flue or annual gas safety check
- Much lower carbon heating
- Lasts 15 to 20 years
Things to consider
- Needs space outside for the unit and usually a hot water cylinder
- Older homes may need some bigger radiators
- Works best with steady, lower temperature heating
- Savings vs mains gas are smaller
Simple and free
Getting heat pump quotes is simple
Step 1: Tell us about your home
Answer a few quick questions. It takes about a minute and there is no obligation.
Step 2: We match you with up to 3 local installers
We pick vetted, MCS certified installers who actually cover your part of Dorset. Never more than three.
Step 3: Compare quotes and choose
Installers get in touch to arrange a survey and a written quote. You choose who to go with, or no one at all.
Air source heat pumps questions
I have a new build home in Gillingham. Is it worth adding solar or a battery?
Usually yes. New homes are well insulated with simple roofs, so solar is easy to fit. If your home already has a small array, adding a battery or more panels can help. Solar panels and batteries have 0% VAT until 31 March 2027, and you can earn money for exported power through the Smart Export Guarantee.
My farmhouse near Gillingham runs on oil. Can a heat pump heat a big old house?
It can, but it needs to be sized properly. Large older houses lose a lot of heat, so insulation, draught proofing and bigger radiators may be needed. Ask your installer for a room by room heat loss survey, and look at our guide on [heat pumps in older homes](/guides/are-heat-pumps-worth-it-older-homes/).
Will a heat pump work in an older Dorset house?
In most cases, yes. Many stone and solid wall homes run heat pumps well once heat loss is properly calculated and some radiators are upsized. A good installer will do a room by room heat loss survey before quoting.
Who applies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
Your installer does. They must be MCS certified. The £7,500 comes off your quote, so you never pay it upfront.
Are heat pumps noisy?
Modern units are about as loud as a fridge from a few metres away. Installers must check noise limits for your neighbours as part of permitted development.
Do I need planning permission?
Most houses can fit one under permitted development. Listed buildings, flats and some conservation area sites may need permission.
How do I pay for it?
The grant is taken off your quote, and you pay the installer for the rest. Ask your installer about payment options.
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