Neal Herbert, GTC Managing Director discusses what housebuilders and developers need to get right before the Future Homes Standard

The direction of travel is clear: new homes will need to have all heating and hot water delivered through low carbon methods rather than gas boilers. That’s the core intent of the Future Homes Standard (FHS) when it considers heating in new build homes – reduce carbon emissions by 75-80%.

At the time of writing, government and industry bodies indicate that FHS and its associated regulations will be laid in late 2025, take effect from 2026, and then move through a transitional period before full enforcement. This means that decisions you make on sites now must be Future Homes Standard-ready, otherwise you run the risk of costly upgrades later down the line.

For low-rise, low-density schemes there are two proven options that deserve your attention because they consider grid capacity constraints, simplify homeowner experience, and future-proof carbon performance: community heat hubs (lowtemperature heat networks with central plant) and networked ground source heat pumps using shared ground arrays.

In this article we look at some of the contracting considerations that matter most if you want these systems to perform technically, commercially and for your customers.

1. Match the solution to site physics and planning
   Community heat hubs centralise plant, utilising air source heat pumps with thermal storage and back-up electric boilers. Each plot’s heat and hot water is delivered via a low-temperature heat network and heat interface unit (HIU). They behave, from the occupier’s perspective, much like a combi boiler with instantaneous hot water and compact inhome kit but remove external air source heat pump units from façades and gardens. This is useful where aesthetics, noise, or plot space are constrained.

   Guidance suggests this model shines on phases of 150 plots or more, where diversity and storage shave peaks and reduce reinforcement risk. The community heat hub forms a single, controllable grid exit point, and thermal stores provide demand-side response headroom at winter peak.

   Networked ground source heat pumps connect multiple homes to a shared ground loop with an individual heat pump inside each dwelling. Electrical peaks are lower and flatter than individual air source heat pumps, seasonal performance is excellent due to stable ground temperatures, and external noise/visual issues are minimal. The shared array is buried in streets or open space.

2. Grid strategy: diversify, store, and stage
   Community heat hubs allow you to diversify demand across plots and shift load via thermal stores, this significantly lowers a site’s overall peak demand compared to schemes installing individual air source heat pumps.

   Networked ground source heat pumps only require the same grid capacity as homes heated by gas and reduce electrical peaks, removing the risk of grid capacity constraint.

   In both cases, controls can be specified that prioritise offpeak charging of stores and weather-compensated flow temperatures, like a bundled smart thermostat.

3. Sales and handover: make low-carbon easy to live with
   Community heat hubs come at a lower cost for housebuilders and lower customer bills by up to 20% in comparison to individual air source heat pumps. Residents should get simple, consistent guidance on how their HIU or in-home ground source heat pump works, who bills them, servicing intervals, and how to get help.

   For networked ground source heat pumps, provide clear information on the cylinder footprint and reheat times. It’s also worth noting that networked ground source heat pumps offer up to five times the efficiency of gas and 30% increased efficiency than an equivalent individual air source heat pump.

4. Plan for compliance today – and headroom tomorrow
   FHS is part of a pathway, not an endpoint. Choose architectures that can tighten flow temperatures, integrate more storage, and benefit from a decarbonising grid without major rework. Community heat hubs and networked ground source heat pumps both offer that runway – provided you contract for outcomes, not just equipment. The winners will be schemes that read the policy tea leaves early, secure grid connections intelligently, and deliver quiet, reliable, fairly priced heat that customers barely notice – because it just works.

For more information, go to www.rdr.link/dbg025

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Image credit: Kensa

Neal Herbert, GTC Managing Director discusses why Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps are the future of new build heating

The Old Guard – Gas Boilers in a New Home

In the world of residential development, there’s comfort in familiarity. For decades, developers have relied on gas boilers to heat new homes. They’re simple, well-understood, and easy to install. Plumbers know them inside and out. Logistically, they’re compact – six boilers to a pallet – making on-site storage a breeze. And from a cost perspective, they’re a winner.

Homeowners too are comfortable with gas. Boilers are tucked neatly into kitchen cupboards and are easy to maintain, thanks to a robust national network of service providers like Homeserve. Repairs are straightforward, and energy bills, while not always cheap, are at least predictable.

But the world is changing. The demand for sustainable solutions and reduced carbon emissions is pushing the industry towards greener alternatives.

The Transition – Air Source Heat Pumps

As gas boilers begin to fall out of favour, individual air source heat pumps have emerged as the next step. On paper, they sound ideal. They’re more energy-efficient – delivering up to three units of heat for every unit of energy used – and they align with sustainability goals.

But the reality is more complicated.

Installing air source heat pumps isn’t plug-and-play or fit and forget. They require different plumbing infrastructure, which means extra training and time. They’re also logistically cumbersome – each unit takes up the space of three pallets, increasing transport and storage needs. Installation sites must be carefully chosen, often impacting the external aesthetics of a home, particularly in terrace builds.

For homeowners, while the efficiency is an upgrade from gas, bills can still be high in winter. Repairs may also be harder to source, given the relative lack of industry expertise and knowledge.

Here today – Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps with Smart Technology

Enter the game-changer: Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps.

These systems are designed to overcome the limitations of both gas and air source heating. Installed underground with the indoor unit conveniently located inside the home – often under the stairs or near the hot water tank, Networked Ground Source Heat Pumps provide a familiar and space-saving setup for developers and a discreet, efficient solution for homeowners.

For developers, the advantages are compelling:

• 15 units per pallet, drastically reducing transport and on-site storage.
• Lower costs compared to individual air source heat pumps.
• Simplified electrical infrastructure, with demand on par with gas boilers with no costly reinforcements or substation upgrades needed.
• Bring a complete end-to-end heating, hot water and cooling solution.  This inclusion of passive cooling helps Part O Building Regulation compliance.

For homeowners, the benefits are even more persuasive:

• 4:1 efficiency, year-round.
• Uncompromised performance in cold weather – unlike air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps don’t struggle in winter.
• 30% reduction in energy bills, thanks to a bundled smart thermostat.
• Low maintenance, with all parts and servicing – including boreholes – covered by GTC.
• Remote control, learning behaviour, and seamless integration via the smart thermostat app.

It’s a true “fit-and-forget” system, backed by UK manufacturing, lifetime guarantees, and a domestic customer service centre. And yes—it’s fully Future Homes Standard-compliant and eligible for Greener Grid Payments, meaning it’s good for the planet and your pocket.

For more on GTC visit House Builders – GTC-UK.

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GTC and The Kensa Group join forces with the Networked Ground Source Heat Pump solution.

The partnership is the largest to be agreed between a utility infrastructure provider and a UK ground source heat pump manufacturer – delivering a complete end-to-end heating, hot water, and cooling solution for housebuilders that will benefit tens of thousands of new build homes a year.

GTC will provide the funded solution to housing developers, along with the design, borehole drilling, and network installation, which can be implemented alongside the other utility networks as part of a one-stop shop. Kensa, which has pioneered networked ground source heat pumps in the UK for more than a decade, will add its expertise in infrastructure and design capabilities and supply its highly efficient, UK manufactured ground source heat pumps to fit each property.

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