The government has launched its Warm Homes Plan, which aims to upgrade the nation’s homes, help families cut their energy bills and tackle fuel poverty.
The £15billion investment will provide households with solar panels and heat pumps, upgrade social housing and support low-income households, as well as offer new protections for renters.
As part of the plan, the government will provide low and zero-interest loans for all households for the installation of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, with the goal of tripling the number of homes with solar panels by 2030.
£5billion will be committed to providing low-income households with technological upgrades, including fully-funded solar panel installations to the average cost of up to £12,000.
The announcement said that, for social housing, the plan could see entire streets upgraded at the same time to lower bills and improve warmth and comfort for residents.
The plan also includes a £7,500 grant for heat pumps, which would be available to all households, and a “first-ever” offer for air-to-air heat pumps, which can also cool homes in the summer.
As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the government will introduce new protections for renters that will support landlords to upgrade private accommodation.
Further details will be set out later in the year on how households can access the loans, following conversations with the finance sector and consumer groups.
Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said: “A warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee for every family in Britain.”
“Today’s plan marks a turning point. It will help to slash energy costs and lift up to a million people out of fuel poverty.”
“This is a government bearing down on the cost-of-living crisis. By driving bills down for good and upgrading millions of homes, we’re giving people the security and the fair shot they need to get on in life.”
Energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “It is a scandal that millions of people in our country do not have the security of a home that is warm, affordable and safe.”
With this investment, we embark on a national project to turn the tide – waging war on fuel poverty and taking another step forward in tackling the affordability crisis for families throughout Britain.”
Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy, said: “The ‘Warm Homes Plan’ is a really important step forward. Electrifying homes is the best way to cut bills for good and escape the yo-yo of fossil fuel costs.”
“Solar panels can slash energy costs, and paired with a battery, we get the electricity when we need it. Heat pumps can be cheaper to run, and with solar they’re often dramatically cheaper. With the right finance, simpler rules and a big push from manufacturers, heat pumps will increasingly be the best solution for many homes – as they are in other countries like Sweden, Norway and Finland.”
“We still need to focus on getting electricity costs lower for everyone, building on the changes in the budget, but this plan sends a clear signal that the future of home heating is electric.”
