An air source heat pump installed at Liverpool Cathedral over winter 2025–26 is now about to enter its first full heating season, six years after we designed the replacement underfloor heating system to accommodate it.

John Coward Architects has an ongoing role at Liverpool Cathedral through Director Mike, who has served as Cathedral Architect since January 2019 and is responsible for works relating to the care of the building fabric.

The new air source heat pump was installed over the winter of 2025–26 and commissioned in April this year. It heats the west nave well through the underfloor heating pipework we installed in 2020, after the cathedral’s original 1960s system failed.

At the time, we future-proofed the design so we could add an air source heat pump when funding became available. Six years later, thanks to grant aid from the Church Commissioners, that next stage has now been completed.

The heat pump is now approaching its first full heating season, and we will be closely monitoring its performance over the coming months. It will be interesting to see how well it performs.