UK government unveils Warm Homes Plan

The UK government’s Warm Homes Plan was announced in early 2026. It sets out how it will “help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future”.

New measures include:

• extending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme by a further year to 2029/30, offering £7,500 grants for air source heat pumps
• an additional £600m for low-income households to receive funding for the full cost of solar panels and batteries, taking the total available to £5bn; and
• low- and zero-interest loans for households, irrespective of income.

In response to this announcement, Scott Sanford, Head of Technical Services and Certification at Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation, said: “We welcome and support any initiative that helps families cut energy bills, reduce fuel poverty and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.

“However, the plan lacks explicit and substantial detail about investment in the training and skills development required to deliver quality home upgrades at scale.”

BCIA President Stacey Lucas added: “Given the scale of emissions from non-domestic buildings, it is deeply disappointing to see no new policies or funding set out for this sector in today’s Warm Homes Plan.

“The Climate Change Committee has been clear about the growing policy gap, and businesses and public sector bodies are already struggling with high energy costs.”

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