British Gas has bought central heating firm PH Jones for £30 million.

The deal includes PH Jones’ social housing business, which provides central heating service and repair for around 250,000 properties.

Betsy Bassis, managing director of British Gas Community Energy said: “Social housing is a strategically important market for British Gas. It not only represents 20% of Britain’s housing stock, but it is also an early adopter of energy efficiency and renewable technologies. We are committed to creating a leading energy services business for the public sector.”

Social housing represents around 5 million homes in the UK and the sector is forecast to spend £3.5 billion a year on energy services by 2012.