It is not clear what the reason for the recommended change of boiler is - are parts now hard to get hold of ? I'd expect a 2004 model to be pretty efficient and capable of modulating down - domestic boilers were all condensing by then... The time to install a heat pump if you are not under time pressure is probably after most "heating engineers" have got used to them, at the moment round here at least there are a lot of installers used to boilers and a few brave and expensive souls doing heat  pumps, but I expect that to change in the next few years.

While we still have gas, and the gas to leccy price ratio per kW is more than the efficacy of the heat pumps, then the gas has the economic benefit. (although according to this article, its getting close)

Payback times are a funny thing,.

On our scout HQ (not listed mind) we stuck solar panels on all available south facing surfaces, and have taken about £1000 off the annual leccy bill. If it was not for a very savvy treasurer getting most of it paid for by others, that would take about 20 years to pay back at that rate !

but with solar power and battery, perhaps a heat pump would look more attractive...

I presume all that can be insulated, clad or triple glazed without offending the planning types, already has been ? The removal of consumption of any heat altogether if you can do it is a better bet.

Mike.

mapj1 said:

but with solar power and battery, perhaps a heat pump would look more attractive...

Presumably, the village hall has a requirement for hot water, so solar power could eliminate the requirement for gas totally in the warmer months. However, a few kW of solar is unlikely to have a great impact on space heating.

How often is the village hall heated? If it is intermittent, the system needs to be powerful enough to raise the temperature, not merely maintain it.

I suspect that the question is somewhat complicated, which is where a heating engineer might earn his (or her) salt.

mapj1 said:

but with solar power and battery, perhaps a heat pump would look more attractive...

Presumably, the village hall has a requirement for hot water, so solar power could eliminate the requirement for gas totally in the warmer months. However, a few kW of solar is unlikely to have a great impact on space heating.

How often is the village hall heated? If it is intermittent, the system needs to be powerful enough to raise the temperature, not merely maintain it.

I suspect that the question is somewhat complicated, which is where a heating engineer might earn his (or her) salt.