The UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan is set to create up to 170,000 energy efficient homes, helping more families lower their energy bills and improve their homes.
£1.8bn in government support will be allocated to local authorities and social housing providers in a new boost that will deliver warmer, more energy efficient homes in local communities across England.
This funding will be targeted towards low-income households and tenants living in social housing, with thousands of families set to receive energy performance and clean heating upgrades in the form of insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
How energy efficient homes will cut bill costs
At a time when many are experiencing high energy bills driven by the UK’s reliance on international gas markets, this funding through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund schemes could now help households save hundreds of pounds a year.
The move towards energy efficient homes will help deliver a milestone of higher living standards in every part of the UK by boosting people’s real household disposable income, a key part of the Plan for Change.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “By giving this funding to local authorities and social housing providers, we are delivering on our promise to improve the homes of thousands of people across England.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we are powering on with our Warm Homes Plan, upgrading cold and draughty homes so they are warmer, cleaner, and cheaper to live in.”
Ensuring energy security in Britain
The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund will deliver up to £1.29bn of funding to 144 projects across England with the Warm Homes: Local Grant allocating £500m to 73 projects across 270 local authorities over the next three years.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will receive an allocation of this funding as part of the Warm Homes and Public Sector Decarbonisation Devolution Programme.
This funding complements the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security and bringing down bills for good.
The funding allocations follow the recent announcement on the Warm Homes Discount, with almost three million more households becoming eligible for £150 to pay their energy bills next winter as the government consults on proposals to offer more support to consumers across the country.
Further initiatives to deliver more energy efficient homes
This funding comes after other government support to deliver warmer, more energy efficient homes and protect consumers, including:
- Consulting on plans to mandate private landlords in England and Wales to improve the energy performance of their properties by 2030, saving private renters £240 per year on average on their energy bills.
- Setting out a £500m Winter Package with Energy UK to help customers with their energy bills.
- Extending the Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households with essential costs like food, energy, and water bills.
- Helping more families get a heat pump by almost doubling the budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in the next financial year to £295m.
- Allocating an extra £55m for the rest of this financial year and removing the rule requiring heat pumps to be installed at least one metre from a property’s boundary.
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, concluded: “We welcome this funding allocation to help decarbonise England’s social homes, a crucial step towards the government’s commitment to tackle fuel poverty.
“Decarbonising our homes is a win-win for residents, the government and our planet, creating warmer homes, saving residents money and tackling the climate emergency.”
