29 April 2026
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Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire uses ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) to provide low-carbon, sustainable stays in historic properties.
Located near Skipton in Yorkshire, Broughton Sanctuary is much more than a luxury retreat destination. This ambitious 1,030-hectare estate represents a unique commitment to restoring nature and leading the way in showing how humans can live harmoniously within the environment.
The sanctuary is transforming high intensity sheep pasture into a mixture of different habitats that coexist and work together, not only to produce food but to help nature recover. Through regenerative farming practices and dedicated rewilding areas, Broughton Sanctuary is working to restore natural processes and balance the ecosystem.
For guests, this nature recovery programme provides an immersive experience in sustainable travel and retreats in nature, offering extended stays in thoughtfully renovated holiday homes where modern eco-friendly technology integrates seamlessly with the estate’s historic character.
The challenge
When estate owner Roger Tempest embarked on renovating the sanctuary’s holiday properties, he faced a unique set of challenges. Roger, a sustainable pioneer committed to achieving net-zero operations, needed a heating solution that aligned with Broughton Sanctuary’s ethical values and environmental mission. The primary obstacles included:
- Historic building constraints: The age and architectural significance of the buildings required careful preservation during renovation
- Extensive renovation scope: Some properties needed to be stripped back to bare brick and renovated from scratch
- Scale and complexity: Multiple properties across the large estate, each with different heating requirements
- Sustainable travel expectations: Guests choosing Broughton Sanctuary expect genuine commitment to environmental stewardship
- Ambitious sustainability goals: Moving away from the existing biomass (wood pellet) heating in the main hall towards comprehensive renewable heating solutions.
The solution
In 2024, Go Geothermal was contacted by Broughton Sanctury focused on making properties more energy efficient. The brief was to deliver comprehensive ground source heat pump (GSHPs) systems that would serve multiple properties across this extensive estate.
Go Geothermal supplied complete heating solutions from the ground up, including:
- Ground loop systems installed beneath the estate
- Plant room technology and controls
- CTC EcoPart heat pumps in various sizes to suit different properties
- CTC EcoZenith i555pro system for a substantial 7-bedroom, 7-bathroom property
- Integration with underfloor heating and radiator systems throughout the renovated accommodations.
The project scope covered eight systems across eight different properties, with work ongoing as additional buildings are brought into the renovation programme. This includes plans for the on-site spa, Eden, and future ambitions to replace the biomass heating in the main hall with heat pump technology.
The results
Broughton Sanctuary now offers guests a truly sustainable holiday experience, where the comfort of modern heating technology operates in harmony with the estate’s nature recovery mission. The GSHP systems provide:
- Highly efficient, renewable heating with minimal carbon footprint
- Reliable comfort heating for extended guest stays
- Seamless integration with the historic character of renovated properties
- Operational alignment with the sanctuary’s ethical and sustainable values
- A foundation for achieving Roger’s netzero ambitions.
Roger, Custodian of Broughton Sanctuary said: “At Broughton Sanctuary we are clearing non renewables like oil out of our system, we’re increasing biodiversity and protecting and enhancing nature. It’s hard to imagine a future where new businesses aren’t operating with sustainability in mind.”
The ongoing partnership between Go Geothermal and Broughton Sanctuary demonstrates how renewable heating technology can support ambitious conservation and sustainability goals, even in challenging historic properties. As the project continues to expand across the estate, it stands as a model for how leisure and hospitality venues can authentically integrate environmental responsibility into their operations.
