Hull at the forefront of UK low carbon manufacturing once again as new build regulations loom

The huge advance in manufacturing capability in Hull will help the UK meet potential legislative demands on new build homes.

A Future Homes Standard, to be introduced in 2025, will require houses completed from then to be future-proofed with low carbon heating.

A government official was there to witness the groundbreaking ceremony, welcoming Hull’s stance ahead of the curve like in offshore wind - and the team said it was geared up for the challenge.

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Steve Hairsine, chief financial officer for parent company Groupe Atlantic’s UK division, and Ideal Heating director, said: “The likes of heat pumps in new builds is exactly the reason we are doing this.

“Orders will be in the thousands, new builds are a big part of our business, and will continue to be.

James Beal, right, low carbon specialist with the Department for International Trade, at the groundbreaking for Ideal Heating's £16 million expansion as it creates space for heat pump, district heating infrastructure and hydrogen boiler manufacturing and distribution at the Hull site on National Avenue. From left, Ciaran McAteer, director of GGP Consult; Jason Speedy, chief operations officer for Ideal Heating; Steve Hairsine, chief financial officer for parent company Groupe Atlantic's UK division; Nick Shepherd, managing director of Britcon and Adam Foy, managing director for sales, marketing and research and development at Ideal Heating. (Katie Pugh/Reach Plc)

“We are very excited to celebrate the physical start of a £16 million investment programme in our main UK facility here in Hull, which significantly increases the size of our manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities. This large investment is a significant point in our evolution.”

Further plans include a training centre for third party installers in the city to learn the new technologies ahead of fitting in homes across the UK.

Observing proceedings was James Beal, low carbon specialist at the Department for International Trade.

He said: “I was involved in offshore wind and I have seen how much Hull has taken advantage, and seen over the horizon, which 10 years ago wasn’t as certain as it is today.

“It has continued to see opportunity going forward, now in new low carbon heat innovations and is keeping itself at the fore of what is coming.

“The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said almost a year ago to the day that we would have 600,000 heat pumps by 2028, and it is this sort of facility that is bringing the capacity and capability to the UK, and I look forward to supporting it and helping to further it.”

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