Bradfords Building Supplies opens new plumbing and heating branch in Barnstaple

Bradfords Building Supplies has opened a new standalone plumbing and heating branch in Barnstaple, its fifth dedicated Plumbing & Heating branch across the South West.

The company already operates a general building supplies branch in the town, at Roundswell Business Park, which opened in March 2025 and includes plumbing and heating products alongside its wider range. This new branch is a separate, specialist site focused solely on plumbing, heating and bathroom products.

The company said Barnstaple was chosen due to the strength of the local plumbing and heating market and demand from installers and contractors across North Devon for greater access to specialist products, technical support and training.

The branch includes a Daikin Sustainable Home Centre, a showroom where homeowners and installers can view heat pump technology and learn more about low-carbon heating systems. The site will also run Daikin Level 1 Installer Training, aimed at helping heating professionals build their knowledge of heat pump installation.

The training offer comes as the heating industry faces growing demand for low-carbon alternatives to traditional gas boilers, with installers needing new skills and qualifications to work with heat pump systems.

Luke Smith, Trading Director for Plumbing & Heating at Bradfords, said the branch was intended to support local tradespeople directly. "North Devon is home to a thriving community of installers and contractors, and we've seen a real demand for greater access to specialist products, expertise and training in the area," he said. "Opening in Barnstaple allows us to be closer to those customers and provide the support they need to grow their businesses."

He said the training element reflected wider changes in the industry. "The industry is evolving quickly, particularly as interest in low-carbon heating solutions continues to increase," he said. "Alongside our core Plumbing & Heating offer, we're also giving installers the opportunity to learn more about technologies such as heat pumps and develop new skills that will help them stay ahead of changing customer requirements."

David Young, Chief Executive Officer of Bradfords Building Supplies, said the opening reflected the company's approach to expansion. "We've been serving communities across the South West for more than 250 years, and our approach has always been to invest where we can make the biggest difference for customers," he said. "Barnstaple is another example of that commitment."

Bradfords, a family-owned business founded in 1770 and headquartered in Yeovil, Somerset, operates more than 45 branches across the South West, including specialist Plumbing & Heating and Tool Hire locations.