Norwich Net Zero Plan: 2,800 Homes a Year Must Switch From Gas to Heat Pumps

Norwich City Council has published a draft energy plan that says 62,169 homes will need to switch from gas heating to low-carbon alternatives like heat pumps by 2045. That works out to roughly 2,766 homes a year for the next two decades, a figure the council says is needed to stay on track for its net-zero target. The plan does not force homeowners to replace their boilers, and the council admits it has limited powers to influence individual choices. Instead, it points to existing programs like the Switch Together Solar collective buying scheme, which also offers EV charge points, and says it is looking for funding to help residents make the change. The challenge is scale: current heat pump adoption rates are far below the pace required, and questions remain about installation capacity, upfront costs, and grid readiness.