The Welsh Government recently published a consultation seeking feedback on a proposed heat strategy which aimed to develop a decarbonised heat system for Wales that delivers on its net-zero ambitions.

Nesta welcomes the clear statement that the Welsh Government expects most homes to be served by heat pumps by 2050. We propose that the strategy should focus on the installation of heat pumps in existing heat pump-ready homes. To reach the proposed target of 30,000 installations per year by 2030, the Welsh Government will need to focus on homes and householders that are currently best placed to drive the market in Wales.

In our response, we also provide our latest findings on ways to reduce the barriers around permitted development rights for heat pumps. These include changing planning rules to make the process simpler and shifting the burden of managing potential noise to an industry level.