The new Government “green industrial revolution” will see gas boilers banned and all new homes in one Lancashire town fitted with ground and water heat pumps to help tackle climate change.

Under the new plan, new-build homes in Blackpool will need to be heated without gas from 2023.

This will mean that by 2028, there will be around 2,000 water heat pumps per year being installed in Blackpool.

Libby Jones from Blackpool HVAC contractor aircon.co.uk said: "Boris is really going for it, first cars, and now boilers – basically you are witnessing the phasing out of traditional gas boilers for new homes being built in Blackpool.

“This is a huge opportunity for those working in both the building and heating industries in Blackpool, because the systems need more installation time and groundworks than a simple gas boiler – the industry reckons an extra 17,000 jobs will be created nationally, and Blackpool will benefit from this."

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution, which focuses on:

  • a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 (some hybrids will still be allowed)
  • a £1.3bn investment in electric vehicle charging points
  • investment in the offshore wind industry
  • developing nuclear power as a clean energy source
  • blending hydrogen into the natural gas supply to reduce emissions
  • clean public transport options include hydrogen buses
  • jet zero and greener maritime with plans to develop the first zero-emission long-haul passenger fligh
  • homes and public buildings to cut emissions
  • carbon capture where power stations group together to store carbon and save on costs
  • nature and an extra £40 million for the green recovery challenge fund
  • innovation and finance

Under the Homes and Public Buildings point, the plan states: "Homes account for almost a fifth of carbon dioxide emissions, mostly from heating, with millions of draughty homes leaking heat generated by gas or even oil boilers.

"Efforts to cut domestic emissions face significant hurdles including switching boilers for low-carbon heat pumps that are not easily compatible with existing central heating systems and overcoming long payback times for some insulation.

"The plan has more money for energy efficiency and targets to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, but the Government has long been warned by its climate advisers it is off track on these fronts, so it is very much playing catch-up."

Ms Jones added: “It’s obvious the Government are really pushing the green initiative and we hope it brings benefits to Blackpool and the UK as a whole."