What is the Warm Homes Plan?
The War Homes Plan is the Government’s Planned Programme to
help families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation
that can cut energy bills.
It is the biggest public investment in home upgrades in
British history
You can read the full The Warm Homes Plan on the Government's website
How much money is there for the Warm Homes Plan?
£15 Billion in total
£ 5 Billion will go to direct
support for Low-income households
£ 90million to support investment
in heat pump supply-chain
£ We are still waiting for the
remainder of the budget to be outlined
It is hoped that this will unlock
an additional £ 38 Billion in investments by industry in innovation, UK based manufacturing,
up-skilling and training.
What energy efficiency measures are involved?
- solar panels (Photovoltaic and thermal),
- heat pumps (ground source, air source (including air to
air))
- home and heat batteries,
- smart controls,
- insulation (wall, floor, and roof)
- and draught proofing.
Who is eligible?
All types of households will benefit, but the aim
is targeted interventions for :
- those on low incomes;
- upgrades for social housing;
- new protections for renters;
and a universal offer for all households to help them upgrade homes if
and when they want to.
What is the Government’s target?
The government has set the following targets for the Warm
Homes Plan to deliver by 2030:
- lift 1 million families out of fuel poverty
- lift half a million families in rented accommodation out of fuel poverty
- upgrade 5 million homes
- triple the number of homes with rooftop solar panels
- ensure 70% of heat pumps installed in UK are made in UK
- Reduce reliance on gas
Is the Warm Homes Plan only for people in England?
No the Warm Homes Plan includes funding for Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland too. Much of this funding will be dispersed through the
Devolved Governments
Is the Warm Homes Plan a single grant scheme?
No the Warm Homes Plan is a strategic framework with several
grant and loan schemes running under its overarching programme.
These schemes already include:
- The Warm Homes Local Grant
- The Warm Homes Social Housing Fund
- And the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
What is the Warm Homes Loan Scheme
Homeowners will be able to apply
for government-backed, low and zero interest loans to install solar
panels as well as batteries and heat pumps
Low-income households and those in fuel
poverty could receive support that would cover the full cost of having
solar panels put on their rooftop, or insulation installed.
What are the New Protections for Renters under the Warm Homes Plan?
There will be new rules to ensure landlords invest in
upgrades to cut bills for renters and social tenants.
landlords have a responsibility to ensure that homes are
safe, warm, and affordable.
What are the Future Homes Standards included in the Warm Homes Plan?
The warm Homes Plan also includes measures to ensure that
new homes are built in such a way that they will be cheaper to run,
with solar panels as standard, These and other measures are in the
Future Homes Standard which will be implemented in 2026.
All new homes must have solar
panels
How doe the Warm Homes Plan affect the Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is being extended making £7,500
available universally to anyone who wants a heat pump
Air-to-air heat pumps are also now included in the scheme
£2Billion has been set aside to provide intrest free loans to low income families that can't afford to go down the existing BUS route.
How will the Warm Homes Plan be delivered?
The Government is setting up the Warm Homes Agency to
oversee and deliver the Warm Homes Plan.
It will have responsibility for regulation and consumer
support ensuring customers have access to the correct advice initially and that
they receive quality installations from competent, qualified installers.
In local areas Mayors will be able to direct upgrade schemes
into specific areas
How can homeowners get access to Warm Homes Loans?
Consumers will be able to access Warm Homes Loans through several
pathways.
Details are still to be published
How can Installers get involved with the Warm Homes Plan?
Installers will have to engage with the Warm Homes Agency, or engage with Local Authorities' procurement framenworks.
Details are still to be published
What is happening between ECO ending in March 2026 and the Warm Homes Plan being fully operational?
The Secretary of State, Ed Miliband MP, has said that there will be up to £1.5billion to help the ECO sector continue to help tackle fuel poverty in the transition period until the Warm Homes Plan comes into effect.
The Minister for Energy Consumers (Mr Martin MacCluskey MP) is setting up an industry panel to coordinate this work, but it seems to be the plan for this funding to be put into the hands of the local authorities and councils.
What is the Warm Homes Agency?
The Warm Homes Agency is to be the new single body responsible for Energy Efficiency upgrades to homes in the UK
It will act as both a consumer interface with the industry and a quality assurance body regulating the installers.
It replaces a number of organisations, including SALIX, and will officially be operational by April 2027.