The Warm Homes Plan is the UK government’s programme for upgrading homes to cut energy bills and carbon emissions. Published on 21 January 2026, it commits £15 billion of public investment and aims to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030, lifting up to a million households out of fuel poverty. It pays for insulation, heat pumps, heat networks, solar panels and batteries.
Where the money goes
The plan’s funding table, including money passed to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, breaks down as follows:
| Programme | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Low-income homes grants | About £4.4 billion |
| Warm Homes Fund (including £2 billion for consumer loans and £600 million for low-income homes) | About £5.3 billion |
| Boiler Upgrade Scheme | About £2.7 billion |
| Heat networks | About £1.1 billion |
| Other programmes | About £0.4 billion |
How it replaces ECO4 and GBIS
Earlier home upgrade schemes were funded by obligations on energy suppliers, paid for through bills. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026 and ECO4 ends on 31 December 2026, with no successor obligation. The Warm Homes Plan uses taxpayer-funded grants and loans instead.
Low-income support is delivered at first through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant, run with councils and social landlords. From 2027/28 these are due to merge into a single low-income scheme.
For households that do not qualify for grants, the Warm Homes Loan Scheme offers zero and low-interest loans through approved lenders for solar panels, batteries and heat pumps. Lenders could apply between 24 June and 17 July 2026, with loans expected to reach the public from September 2026.
Eligibility and timings vary by scheme and nation, so check GOV.UK or your local council before relying on any of them. This is general information, not financial advice.
Read more: Solar panel grants and incentives in the UK.