The UK’s Biggest Home Upgrade Programme Could Cut Energy Bills for Millions

Last year, we explored what the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) meant for local authorities and housing providers including the major differences between Waves 2 and 3, new cost caps, and the growing emphasis on high‑quality tenant engagement. That fund has already helped social landlords plan smarter, more ambitious retrofit programmes to bring homes up to modern standards.  

Now, the conversation is getting much bigger.

A new era for The Warm Homes Plan (January 2026)

The UK Government has now launched the Warm Homes Plan, the largest home‑upgrade programme in British history. Valued at £15 billion, the Plan aims to upgrade up to five million homes by 2030, tackling high energy bills and reducing fuel poverty across the country.  

Unlike the WH:SHF which is specifically for social housing providers the Warm Homes Plan brings support to:

• Low‑income families
• Private renters
• Homeowners
• Social housing tenants

This marks a major expansion from sector‑specific funding toward a whole‑market, whole‑home approach.

What Funding Can Cover

Under the Warm Homes Plan, households may be eligible for government‑backed grants or low‑/zero‑interest loans to install:

• Solar panels
• Home battery storage
• Heat pumps
• Smart heating controls
• Insulation
• Draught proofing

These technologies are central to the Plan’s mission to permanently cut household energy bills and reduce reliance on fossil fuel heating. According to government estimates, funding packages for solar and battery installations alone could be worth £9,000–£12,000 per home, depending on property needs and existing efficiency.

While the Warm Homes Plan is broader, social housing still sits at its core with pathways, grants, and assessment requirements that complement the existing WH:SHF and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) landscape.

Why This Matters for Social Landlords and Councils

For providers already navigating WH:SHF or SHDF Waves, the Warm Homes Plan creates:

• More aligned national standards (e.g., EPC reform, quality‑led retrofit expectations)
• Stronger funding pipelines for clean heat and fabric‑first measures
• A clearer long‑term direction to 2030, supporting investment decisions, procurement planning, and workforce development

In short: it strengthens the case for whole‑stock retrofit planning, and will increase demand and expectations across all tenures.

What This Means for Residents (especially in our region)

The Warm Homes Plan aims to bring low‑carbon, low‑cost homes within reach for millions who previously could not access this level of upgrade support. For low‑income households, many improvements could be fully funded, significantly reducing barriers to adoption.

For residents in the Liverpool City Region or Sefton Borough, Ecogee is already supporting delivery of the Warm Homes Local Grant, helping households access funding for eligible measures. https://ecogee.co.uk/warm_homes_local_grant/

Ecogee has spent years helping social landlords navigate complex retrofit funding from WH:SHF and SHDF guidance to delivery planning and tenant engagement. The new Warm Homes Plan doesn’t replace this work; it expands and strengthens the national commitment to energy‑efficient homes.

If your organisation manages housing stock or supports tenants who may qualify now is the time to align your retrofit strategy with this next phase of UK energy policy.

We’re here to help you understand it, plan for it, and deliver it.