As the UK accelerates the transition to low-carbon heating, housebuilders are facing a growing challenge: delivering new homes without relying on the gas infrastructure that has underpinned residential development for decades.

In our latest Raven-i, we explore the difficult choices developers now face as they balance housing delivery, net zero targets and the realities of energy infrastructure.

Historically, developers connected new homes to established utilities and focused on what they do best: building quality homes and communities. Today, many are being asked to make long-term energy decisions, invest in generation assets and, in some cases, take on responsibilities more commonly associated with utility providers.

The paper examines the strengths and limitations of individual heat pumps, communal heat networks and regional heat infrastructure, questioning whether the UK’s current approach risks creating a patchwork of isolated energy systems rather than a connected, future-proof solution.

A key theme is the role of strategic heat infrastructure. Rather than requiring every development to solve the heat challenge independently, regional heat networks and Heat Highways could provide a utility-scale backbone capable of connecting homes to a range of low-carbon heat sources over the long term.

For developers, planners and policymakers alike, the question is simple: Should housebuilders be expected to create and operate energy systems, or should strategic infrastructure provide the foundation for decarbonising new homes?