| Measure | Stockport | Trafford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 126,649 | 96,267 | 24,783,199 |
| Mains gas only | 82.1% | 81.9% | 73.8% |
| Electric only | 6.8% | 7.9% | 8.5% |
| No gas meter (2024) | 7.88% | 10.02% | - |
| Semi-detached | 41.2% | 43.8% | 31.5% |
| Terraced | 20.9% | 20.8% | 23.2% |
| All flats | 16.2% | 20.2% | 21.7% |
| Owner-occupied | 71.1% | 69.0% | 61.6% |
| Heat pumps paid (BUS) | 300 | 265 | 96,185 |
| Per 1,000 households | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.9 |
| Listed-building records | 404 | 266 | - |
The highest grant rates in the city region
Trafford has had 265 heat pumps paid for by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, about 2.8 per 1,000 households, and Stockport 300, about 2.4. The next highest, Bury, is at about 1.9, and both are still below the England and Wales rate of about 3.9. The statistics give no reasons, but the pattern fits the housing: these are the boroughs with the most owner-occupiers, 71.1% in Stockport and 69.0% in Trafford, and the scheme is built for owners.
- Trafford 2.8
- Stockport 2.4
- Bury 1.9
- Manchester 1.7
- Rochdale 1.6
- Bolton 1.5
- Salford 1.4
- Wigan 1.4
- Oldham 1.3
- Tameside 1.2
England and Wales: 3.9
DESNZ Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics to September 2026; ONS Census 2021.
Semis and detached houses
Semi-detached houses are the largest group in both boroughs, 41.2% of Stockport's households and 43.8% of Trafford's. Stockport also has the most detached houses of the ten, 21.6%. A semi can have one outdoor unit under Class G, usually at the side or rear; a detached house can have two, which helps a larger house that needs more heat than one unit can give. Either way, the MCS 020 a) sound calculation to the nearest neighbouring window sets the final position.
Trafford's off-gas homes
Trafford's off-gas share, 10.02%, is the third highest of the ten, after Salford and Manchester. Its electric-only share was 7.9% in 2021, and it has more flats than Stockport (20.2% of households). Electric-heated homes have the most to gain on running costs from a heat pump, though a home with storage heaters may need radiators fitting.
Running costs on gas
Most homes in both boroughs are on gas, so a heat pump competes with a modern gas boiler. The running cost then depends on design: radiators sized for a low flow temperature, a hot water cylinder and controls set for steady heating. Ask the installer for a heat-loss survey and a running-cost estimate based on your own gas bills.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant here
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority delivers the area-based scheme in both boroughs, in selected areas only. For owners outside those areas, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme's £7,500 is the route.
Listed buildings
Stockport has 404 listed-building records and Trafford 266. A heat pump at a listed house always needs planning permission; see listed buildings.