The government has launched a £15bn Warm Homes Plan, promising grants and low-cost finance to upgrade millions of homes and cut household energy bills.

Announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the plan is described as the biggest home upgrade programme in British history. It aims to support measures including insulation, solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps, while reducing exposure to volatile gas prices and supporting net zero ambitions.

According to the government, up to five million homes could be upgraded over the lifetime of the programme, with as many as one million families lifted out of fuel poverty.

Low-income households will be offered fully funded upgrades, while other households will be able to access zero- and low-interest loans to spread the cost of improvements such as rooftop solar.

The Warm Homes Plan provides a long-term funding framework, with further detail on delivery, eligibility and timings to be set out later. Ministers said this approach is intended to give industry certainty and allow supply chains to scale up.

The announcement also includes commitments on social housing upgrades and stronger protections for renters, alongside continued investment in public sector decarbonisation.

DESNZ said the package would lower bills, improve energy security and create skilled jobs, while industry stakeholders stressed that clear guidance on implementation will be critical to its success.

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