MPs call for rapid addition of ATA heat pumps to BUS scheme
7th August 2026
UK: More than 50 MPs have signed an open letter to the MCS and UKAS urging the speedy inclusion of air-to-air heat pumps in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
The letter to Lisa Cooke, MD of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), and Matt Gantley, chief executive of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), calls for the greatest
possible speed and urgency in completing the outstanding certification and accreditation processes to allow consumers access to grants of up to £2,500.
Last November, the government announced that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers grants of £7,500 off the cost of installing an air-source or ground-source heat pump, would be expanded to offer a £2,500 discount off the cost of installing an air-to-air heat pump providing heating and cooling.
While air-to-air heat pumps were already officially included in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme from the end of April, actual installations and voucher generation have been delayed while the specific product standards, testing processes, and active installer certification frameworks are finalised.
The MPs claim that they are increasingly confronted by constituents concerned about overheating in homes, particularly in urban areas and among those who cannot afford expensive cooling solutions.
Urging more haste, the letter states: “It is difficult to justify unnecessary delays in enabling wider deployment of a technology that can simultaneously reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and help households remain safe and comfortable during periods of extreme heat.”
The MPs insist that they recognise the need for robust consumer protections and high installation standards are essential but argue that where legislative approval has already been secured, there is a strong public interest in ensuring that remaining regulatory and accreditation steps are concluded as rapidly as possible.
Related stories:
Air conditioning added to BUS scheme – 18 November 2025
UK: The UK government has expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include ATA air conditioning units. Read more…
BESA calls for BUS upgrade to include cooling – 25 July 2025
UK: The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has called for a revision of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include incentives for heat pumps which provide both heating and cooling. Read more…
