The Government has unveiled its new £15bn Warm Homes Plan, billed as the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history and a major step towards tackling cold, damp housing, cutting energy bills and slashing carbon emissions.
For the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, the announcement reflects years of sustained campaigning to put fuel poverty at the heart of national policy, backed by evidence on the health harms of cold homes and the scale of the bills crisis facing households across the UK.
The Warm Homes Plan is built around three main pillars:
- Targeted support for low-income households, including £5bn in grants to fund insulation, heat pumps, solar panels and batteries
- Universal low and zero-interest loans so more homeowners can access rooftop solar, heat pumps and battery storage
- New protections for renters, including plans to strengthen energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has repeatedly argued that success must be judged by outcomes in people’s homes and in their bills, not just how many measures are installed. In a series of briefings, consultation submissions and letters to ministers, the Coalition has pushed for the Warm Homes Plan to prioritise households in fuel poverty, fund trusted advice, strengthen consumer protections and link upgrades to real-world bill reductions.
Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:
“The lifeblood of the Plan amounts to a rescue mission for the coldest, dampest homes in Britain – and this must be the priority. Combined with long-overdue improvements to conditions in the private rented sector, it could save lives, cut NHS costs and permanently slash energy bills for those in fuel poverty.
“Achieving this, while also inspiring a rooftop and heat pump revolution through loans and subsidies, will require a national effort. There will also need to be reforms which go beyond this Plan, such as bringing down the cost of electricity and providing financial support with energy costs while households wait for improvements to be installed.
“Above all, any use of public funds must come with a Warm Homes Guarantee, built around quality advice on the right installations to deliver, enhanced consumer protections and a promise that every upgraded home will see bills come down.
”If delivery matches ambition then this could be the biggest breakthrough in tackling cold damp homes in a generation, but now the hard work begins.”
Campaigners and sector partners have welcomed the direction of travel but warned that delivery must be locally led, properly funded and protected by strong safeguards so households are not let down again.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork UK’s Chief Executive, said:
“There’s much to commend in the Warm Homes Plan. We particularly welcome the worst-first approach, the area-based model and the emphasis on local job creation. This is the right long-term strategy but we know it won’t solve the problems of acute fuel poverty and energy debt overnight. We also know that, without additional support, those living in more vulnerable or challenging circumstances may not benefit. We look forward to hearing more about plans for advice and coordination and would like to see these include up-front community engagement to ensure widespread take-up and post-installation support to ensure householders gain the full benefit of any measures installed.”
Kate Meakin, director of Energise Sussex Coast, said:
“Insulating homes is a permanent solution to end fuel poverty… However, if this Plan is to avoid past failures, there must be a mandatory requirement for real-world performance to be monitored after installations are complete – as well as a Warm Homes Guarantee that ensures that every household that receives support actually sees their bills come down.”
And Andrew McCracken, Director of External Affairs at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“Living in a cold, damp or mouldy home puts people at increased risk of developing serious lung conditions and can cause life-threatening asthma attacks and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
“Poor housing is a key determinant of lung health, so with survey data showing that more than one in five people with lung conditions are living in cold or damp housing, it’s little wonder the UK has the highest rate of deaths from lung disease in Europe.”
As the Warm Homes Plan rolls out, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition is calling for:
- A Warm Homes Guarantee so upgrades come with trusted advice, clear accountability, strong redress and verified bill reductions
- Full transparency on funding, including what is genuinely new investment and what is recycled from existing schemes
- Fair electricity pricing reforms and interim bill support, so households are not left waiting without help
- Stronger protections for renters, including enforcement capacity, EPC integrity and safeguards against eviction or unfair rent hikes linked to upgrades