RENEWABLES L
ow-carbon, lower-energy heating technologies are on the up, but knowing how to navigate the developing landscape can be tricky, for householders, installers and merchants. Woodstock Plumbing and Heating Supplies Ltd, the one-branch NBG Partner in Andover, has positioned itself as a trusted guide through the complexities of modern renewable heating. “Our mission is to take the mystique out of renewables and create a reliable route to market for everyone involved,” says Director Ben Maloney. “In a sense, we are offering a turnkey approach.” At the heart of Woodstock’s renewables operation is its relationship with an NBG Supplier specialising in design, heat-loss analysis, MCS accreditation and cost estimation. “We look after everything from design to delivery,” Maloney explains. “That might mean helping a homeowner who doesn’t think a heat pump will work in their semi-detached house, or supporting a developer building three or four new homes.” The Supplier provides the initial heat-loss calculations and estimates, while Woodstock coordinates the process, manages expectations and ensures the proposed system will actually work. In an industry still carrying the scars of early missteps and bandwagon-jumping installations, that honesty matters.
“We don’t promise the world,” he says. “If it isn’t going to work without improving the fabric of the building, we say so. If the cost isn’t going to stack up, we say that too.”
Woodstock employs a ‘renewables champion’, a member of the team whose sole job is to talk to customers, break down misconceptions and explain options without jargon or pressure. He will take inquiries and ask about their expectations, the property and how it is constructed and currently heated. One of the biggest barriers for homeowners is cost. With installs commonly costing £15,000, many don’t know whether renewable heating is even within reach. But Woodstock is fully aligned with the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), meaning qualifying homeowners can claim £7,500.
“We bring that up right away,” Maloney says. “The first estimate includes a clear indication of the approximate cost and the potential BUS funding. It means from the start, the customer knows the real financial picture.” The BUS scheme is for householders, so doesn’t apply to Woodstock’s developer customers, for whom renewable integration is now part of planning expectations, SAP requirements and market appeal.“If you build a new home with underfloor heating, and a modern air-source heat pump, it’s a selling point. Buyers want low bills and sustainability. And
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WOODSTOCK: THE ROAD TO RENEWABLES
Fiona Russell Horne meets an NBG Partner with a handle on the renewables market.
Left: Ben Maloney, Director at Woodstock Plumbing and Heating Supplies Ltd
planning departments reward renewable-first designs.”
Still, the design must be right, and Maloney emphasises the importance of accurate U-values, suitable pipework, appropriate radiators or underfloor heating. Without these, even the best heat pump will underperform.
“You can’t just take out a boiler and stick in an air-source heat pump,” he says. “Lower flow temperatures mean the whole system needs to be designed correctly. If not, the unit will kick in with electric backup, and that’s when costs soar.”
Maloney says that Woodstock also works closely with small, independent installers, who want to offer renewables but feel daunted by the paperwork, design demands and scheduling. “What scares them is the diary management, knowing when to do what. They worry about getting it wrong.”
Woodstock guides engineers step-by-step through the process, handling the scheduling, helping with design, and delivering direct technical advice and training. And, through NBG’s buying power, offering genuine price deals on the materials.
On the developer side, Woodstock is finding success with smaller firms building two to five homes at a time. “They often know they need renewables to hit their SAP requirements, but they don’t know where to start,” he says. ”They’re used to traditional plumbing and heating, not heat pumps.”
Woodstock offers the developers a streamlined path: full MCS-accredited design packages, product supply, technical support and guidance for whichever installer it brings in. Woodstock’s progress has helped spark the creation of a dedicated renewables category within the buying group.
Maloney says the first phase of the category development focuses on air-source and ground- source heat pumps. Phase two will integrate solar PV and MVHR systems.
“There’s a real demographic diversity within NBG, from single-branch independents like us, to multi-branch merchants. Renewables offer opportunity for all of them.”
It’s an opportunity that needs grasping, he adds, before renewable business migrates from merchants to electrical wholesalers and roofing companies, especially around solar PV. “When people hear ‘solar’, they think electric – photovoltaic panels,” he explains. “And PV has the strongest payback at the moment because electricity prices have gone through the roof. So, the electrical merchants moved quickly and the plumbing merchants risked missing out.” Renewables aren’t just about stocking boxes. They demand education, design support, technical understanding and transparency. That’s why, according to Maloney, independent merchants have the edge. “We can make decisions fast. We can be proactive and reactive at the same time. We have renewables champions on the ground not everything has to be decided at head office six levels up.” Large, national merchants may have scale, but independents, he argues, have accountability, culture and personal investment. “You can have all the infrastructure you want, but if you don’t have the people pushing renewables from the ground up, it won’t land. We’re lucky because NBG has a really strong mix of traditional values and modern thinking. And we’re all pushing in the same direction.”
Ultimately, Maloney sees the transition to renewables as an educational journey, not just for customers, but for installers, merchants and policymakers too.
“When you touch a gas-heated radiator, it’s red hot. One heated by an air-source heat pump, isn’t. People think that means it isn’t working, but it’s designed to run differently – at a lower temperature, for longer, and more efficiently. There’s a knowledge gap we all need to bridge.” With the UK moving away from fossil fuels towards electrification, that education will only become more important. “When you mix decades of traditional merchanting values with fresh ideas and new technologies, you get progress,” he says. ”And if we’re going to be in this industry for the next 20 years, we have to embrace renewables, not shy away from them.”
January 2026
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