A report from the cross-party housing, communities and local government select committee, has called for an explanation of where other low carbon alternatives to heat pumps will be sourced. It said the government's forecast that 200,000 heat pumps a year are installed in new homes from 2028 falls short of the 300,000 new homes a year target.

The National Federation of Builders said there were low-cost alternatives to heat pumps such as using solar panels in the summer and an electric boiler in the winter for hot water and heating.

Select committee chair Clive Betts said: “Moving to lower or zero emissions from new homes is important. But to reach net-zero, it’s crucial that insulation is improved in existing homes and that householders are offered viable choices and incentives to replace their gas boilers and decarbonise their heating.”

The report urges the government to consider tax incentives, such as lower VAT, stamp duty and council tax, for energy-efficient measures and homes.

“The government’s current approach, and lack of incentives to do otherwise, risks a large number of existing gas boilers simply being replaced with new gas boilers,” added Betts.