Waddesdon Manor to Install National Trust's Largest Ground Source Heat Pump

Waddesdon Manor, a Grade I-listed Buckinghamshire estate, will install the National Trust's largest-ever ground source heat pump system, replacing gas boilers with renewable heating. The project, a partnership between the National Trust and the Rothschild Foundation, will reduce carbon emissions by 124 tonnes annually and create a stable internal environment to protect the Manor's significant art collection. An array of 46 boreholes, each 160 metres deep, will harness geothermal heat, generating over 500,000 kWh of renewable heat yearly with no visible landscape impact. Work starts August 2026, with drilling on the North Lawn, internal installation in winter, and completion by April 2027, ahead of the Manor's 150th anniversary. The Manor will close from late November 2026 to spring 2027 for internal works. Paul Cook of the National Trust called it a major step in reducing carbon emissions, while Pippa Shirley of the Rothschild Foundation highlighted the project's demonstration of sustainable systems in historic buildings.