Wigan in short
- Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and Hindley have large numbers of brick terraces from the mining and mill era.
- Standish, Orrell and parts of Golborne include many newer estates.
- Much of the borough lies on the Lancashire coalfield. Ground source boreholes there may need a permit from the Mining Remediation Authority.
- Air source heat pumps are unaffected by the coalfield question.
Wigan borough is a collection of towns rather than a single city: Wigan itself, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Hindley, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Standish and more. Most grew around collieries and cotton mills in the nineteenth century, which left a large stock of brick terraced housing, with newer estates added around the edges since.
Terraced homes
Solid-walled terraces lose more heat through their walls than modern houses, but shared walls keep total heat loss lower than people often expect. The practical questions are the flow temperature the radiators need — usually around 45–50°C, which means some radiators get bigger — and where the outdoor unit can go in a rear yard with enough airflow, a drain and an acceptable noise level for the neighbours.
Newer estates
Homes built from the late twentieth century onwards generally have insulated cavity walls, better glazing and lower heat loss, which makes a heat pump design simpler. Estate layouts can limit where the outdoor unit goes, so side access and boundary distances still need checking.
Ground source heat pumps and the coalfield
Most homes choose an air source heat pump, and the coalfield makes no difference to those. It matters if you are considering a ground source system with vertical boreholes. Much of Wigan borough lies within the coalfield, and drilling that could intersect coal seams or old mine workings needs a permit from the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority). A ground source design here should include a check of the site's mining history before any drilling is planned.
Recently built homes in Standish and Golborne
Standish, Golborne and other parts of the borough have seen a lot of new housing. If you are buying a brand-new home, note that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover new builds, apart from self-builds, so a heat pump would need to be part of the developer’s specification. Newer homes that already have a gas boiler are usually treated like any other house when the boiler is replaced, and their low heat loss tends to make the design straightforward: smaller heat pumps, fewer radiator changes and simpler pipe runs. Eligibility for your specific property is confirmed before any commitment.
Most air source heat pumps in England go in under permitted development rather than a full planning application. they are still conditional — there are limits on the size and siting of the unit, and an MCS 020 noise assessment is normally part of demonstrating compliance. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats are treated differently, and the council's planning team is the authority on your specific address. Assume nothing; check first.
Wigan Council's planning team is the authority on your specific address.
Grants available in Wigan
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) covers England and Wales and is administered by Ofgem, so Wigan homeowners are eligible on exactly the same terms as anywhere else in England. The amounts are fixed:
- £7,500 towards an air source, ground source or water source heat pump.
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler — off gas grid, rural, emissions certificate required.
- £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. Residential only.
For an air source, ground source or water source heat pump the grant is £7,500, on the same terms across the whole borough.
Two details worth knowing. First, you no longer need an EPC — that requirement was removed on 28 April 2026, which means outstanding loft or cavity wall recommendations can no longer block an application. Second, the installation has to be commissioned within 120 days of the Ofgem application, so the grant is not something to sit on. The MCS-certified installer applies for you and takes the grant off your bill; you never handle the money yourself.
Separately, domestic heat pumps, solar and battery storage are currently at 0% VAT, which is due to end on 31 March 2027. Our full write-up is in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme explained.
Where ByEco stands right now. Boiler Upgrade Scheme applications can only be lodged by an MCS-certified installer. ByEco has MCS & TrustMark certification in progress and cannot submit a BUS application on your behalf yet. If you are planning work to a fixed date, tell us the date and we will say honestly whether we can meet it or whether you should go elsewhere.
Solar in Wigan
Newer estates often have simple, unshaded roof slopes that suit solar well. On terraced streets the direction the rows run decides whether roofs face south or east and west, and chimney stacks can shade parts of a roof. East and west-facing roofs typically generate 15–20% less than south-facing ones. See are solar panels worth it, or try our solar size calculator.
Heat pump detail is on our heat pumps page, and the other areas we cover are listed on our service areas.
Get a realistic figure for your house
Send us your postcode, roughly when the house was built and how it is heated now. We will come back with a straight answer about what would suit it — including if the answer is that the fabric work should come first.
Or email [email protected]. Our office is at 12–14 Midland Street, Manchester M12 6LB.