Council commits to be part of warm homes scheme

Friday, 7 February 2025 06:05

Wiltshire Council has confirmed its ambition to be part of a government scheme that will support even more homes in the county to be energy efficient – saving residents money and keeping homes warmer for longer.

The council has bid for around £13m of funding from the government’s Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme. The scheme is the government’s successor to its Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) phase two programme, with Wiltshire Council on track to retrofit 86 homes by the end of March, with measures such as low carbon heating systems, solar panels and wall/loft insulation.

The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme is set to get underway from April and will be in place to support households that:

Are of low income
Have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G
Are privately owned (owner occupied or privately rented)

The purpose of the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme will be to ensure that more homes in the county are warm, efficient and well adapted to climate change. By focusing on low-income households and areas of high economic deprivation, upgrades to the housing will support communities, ensuring they are not left behind in the transition to net zero and will help combat fuel poverty. Wiltshire Council estimates there could be around 13,500 households eligible for improvement in Wiltshire under the scheme.

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “Following on from the successful implementation of the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, which is rolling out across the county as we speak, the next logical step forward for us is to commit to this even bigger scheme. The Warm Homes: Local Grant Scheme has the potential to support many more homes to be as energy efficient, warm and safe as possible and it’s an opportunity we can’t miss.

“The decision by Cabinet to agree to go ahead means we can start to get everything lined up so that we hit the ground running as soon as we get the go-ahead from government.”

Wiltshire Council expects to hear back from the government on its application for funding in the coming weeks.

Cabinet gave the green light to Wiltshire Council to be involved in the scheme at its meeting on 4th February.