Annual time series
Year-by-year detail
| Year | Vouchers issued | Cumulative | YoY growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (May–Dec, scheme launch) | 9 888 | 9 888 | — |
| 2023 | 13 500 | 23 388 | +37% |
| 2024 | 38 000 | 61 388 | +181% |
| 2025 (estimate) | 50 000 | 111 388 | +32% |
| 2026 (projected) | 70 000 | 181 388 | +40% |
Regulatory milestones driving uptake
- 23 May 2022 — scheme launch. Initial £5,000 grant for ASHP, £6,000 for GSHP, £5,000 for biomass. Initial £450M budget commitment.
- 23 October 2023 — grant increase. ASHP grant raised from £5,000 to £7,500, GSHP raised to £7,500, biomass remains £5,000. The full uptake effect was visible in 2024 (first full year at higher amount).
- April 2024 — permitted-development reform. Most heat pump installations no longer require planning consent in England under updated permitted-development rights — provided the unit meets MCS 020 noise requirements and is sited at least 1m from boundaries.
- 2025 — extended scheme commitment. Government announced extended funding for the BUS scheme through to March 2028, alongside additional commitments under the Warm Homes Plan.
- 2026 (forecast) — projected peak year. Combination of higher grant, easier planning, growing MCS-certified installer base, and rising oil/LPG prices is driving record demand. Full-year actuals will follow Ofgem quarterly release schedule.
Methodology & data sources
2022 and 2023 figures are taken from Ofgem published BUS scheme statistics: 2022 (8-month partial year, May–Dec) saw 9,888 vouchers issued; 2023 saw approximately 13,500 vouchers (rounded). Sources at ofgem.gov.uk.
2024 figures are Ofgem published quarterly data aggregated; reported figures across quarterly publications fell in the 32,000–40,000 range — the midpoint (38,000) is shown above.
2025 is an estimate based on partial Ofgem quarterly publications through year-end; the figure shown (~50,000) is consistent with reported quarterly trends buthas not yet appeared in a final consolidated Ofgem annual release. It is offered as a reasonable estimate, not as an Ofgem-attributed actual.
2026 is a projection based on current quarterly trajectory + installer-base expansion + ongoing scheme commitment. Treated as a forecast; not an Ofgem actual. Subject to revision as Ofgem releases later quarters.
Disclaimer: Voucher counts beyond 2024 are estimates and projections, not Ofgem-attributed actuals. For decision-making purposes (eligibility, BUS application timing), consult Ofgem's official BUS dashboard directly. This page is offered for journalistic, policy, and educational reference.
This dataset is published under CC BY 4.0 for academic, journalistic, and policy use. Citation: BUSGrant (2026). UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme Annual Voucher Uptake 2022–2026 (estimates and projections from Ofgem published statistics). https://busgrant.uk/uk-bus-grant-uptake-2022-2026.
What this means for UK homeowners considering a heat pump
Three signals matter:
- Strong scheme momentum. 7.5× growth from 2022–2026 means installer market is expanding, prices stabilising, and quote turnaround tightening.
- Funding through 2028. No urgency to rush — but apply during 2026–2027 for highest probability of voucher availability before final-year scheme tranche pressure.
- Regulatory tailwind. Permitted-development + extended funding + growing MCS installer base = lowest-friction window for UK heat pump retrofit since scheme launch.
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