The county's off-gas heartland
Ribble Valley (15.38%) and Lancaster (14.37%) are the two councils with the highest shares of properties without a gas meter. In Ribble Valley the census shows why: 1,888 households, 7.1%, used oil alone in 2021, and 2.6% LPG. Lancaster's off-gas homes mix oil (2.4%) and electric heating (7.5%).
| Council | Households | No gas meter | Oil only | Electric only | Terraced | Detached | Grants paid | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 59,976 | 14.37% | 2.4% | 7.5% | 25.5% | 19.4% | 220 | 1,343 |
| Ribble Valley | 26,747 | 15.38% | 7.1% | 4.0% | 28.3% | 34.5% | 161 | 836 |
Oil and the higher grant
For an oil- or LPG-heated home with no mains gas, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme's higher band of £9,000 applies to applications properly made by 31 March 2027. A capped or clamped gas meter still counts as mains gas. The oil and LPG page sets out the conditions.
Detached homes and land
34.5% of Ribble Valley households lived in a detached house in 2021, the highest share of the 14. Detached homes can have up to two air source units under Class G and more often have land for a ground source loop, which is permitted development under Class C.
Listed buildings
Lancaster holds 1,343 listed-building records in the national dataset, the most of any council in this guide, and Ribble Valley 836. Class G does not apply to listed buildings, so a heat pump on one needs planning permission. See listed buildings.