Your Type of Home news, page 8
- June 2023
Warm Homes Programme policy statement published
The Welsh Government has published a policy statement for its next Warm Homes Programme, alongside a lessons learned report and its response to last year's consultation, with the current Nest contract extended to avoid a gap in provision.
Department for Infrastructure announces changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has amended permitted development rights so domestic air source heat pumps no longer need planning permission, subject to conditions, from 4 July 2023.
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules apply in full in England
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules for new homes in England have applied in full since June 2023, and industry figures show the share of newbuilds fitted with solar panels rose from 13% to 42% by late 2024.
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
Scottish Government screening assessment confirms the Warmer Homes Scotland contract expires on 30 June 2023, with a successor national scheme due to start three days later on 3 July 2023.
- May 2023
Coalition first warns of return of PPMs scandal
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho warning that the prepayment meter scandal could return, and asking for forced installations to be banned outright.
- April 2023
Evidence period for Alternative Fuel Payment applications extended by 3 months to June 2022
Grant Shapps extended the Alternative Fuel Payment evidence window back to June 2022, so households that bought heating oil, LPG, biomass or solid fuel in bulk before winter can still claim £200.
Survey finds 9 in 10 rural off-gas-grid homes say green heating plans treat them unfairly
A survey of 1,500 oil-heated homes finds 90 per cent believe the government's green heating proposals treat off-gas-grid households unfairly, as trade bodies press for a choice of low carbon options.
Ofgem consults on Great British Insulation scheme LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has opened a three-week consultation on how it would run Local Authority and Supplier Flex under the Great British Insulation Scheme, and on possible changes to ECO4 Flex administration.
Which? warns low-income households face £209 shortfall and calls for social tariff
Which? research published on 4 April 2023 estimates the poorest tenth of UK households will spend an average of £209 more on energy this financial year and calls for a targeted social tariff.
Constituency fuel poverty estimates published on basis of £3,000 average annual household energy bill
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has published modelled fuel poverty estimates for every English Parliamentary constituency, based on the average household energy bill reaching £3,000 a year from 1 April 2023.
Funding support for energy saving measures expanded
Funding support for energy saving measures, until now usually limited to low income or benefit-claiming households, is being expanded to more people from April 2023, according to the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
Scenario modelling projects 920,000 fuel poor households from April 2023
Scottish Government modelling published on 30 May 2023 projects 920,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 37 per cent of all households, from April 2023 once the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
- March 2023
Phase 2 of Home Upgrade Grant begins
The second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant began in April 2023, with up to £700m allocated across English local authorities to fund energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating until March 2025.
Warmer Homes Scotland began using revised eligibility criteria
Warmer Homes Scotland moved to revised eligibility criteria in April 2023, after the first phase of applications closed on 31 March 2023 with referrals paused until October.
WMCA secures £34m to retrofit around 3,000 West Midlands homes
The West Midlands Combined Authority has secured £34 million of government funding, matched by £35 million from housing providers, to retrofit around 3,000 homes rated D or below.
Coalition writes to Housing Minister seeking no new gas grid connections under Future Homes Standard
More than 40 organisations have written to the UK Housing Minister asking for confirmation that the Future Homes Standard will not permit new gas grid connections in newly built homes.
Fuel poverty forecast to rise to 7.5 million UK households
National Energy Action forecasts 7.5 million UK households will be in fuel poverty, up from 6.7 million, after the Energy Bill Support Scheme ended and the Energy Price Guarantee was extended.
First Minister backed £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund
The First Minister marked his first month in office with a £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund, a commitment the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel later cited when it criticised plans to close the fund.
New Warmer Homes Scotland scheme launches
A new version of Warmer Homes Scotland, built on a whole house retrofit approach, replaced the previous scheme in early 2023, targeting lower-income and vulnerable households in fuel poverty.
- February 2023
Government releases Fuel Poverty Statistics for England showing 3.26 million households in fuel poverty
Official figures show 3.26 million English households in fuel poverty, with National Energy Action estimating the 2030 efficiency target is now 300 years away on current progress.
Online portal opens for £600 EBSS alternative funding applications in Northern Ireland
The UK government has opened an online portal and telephone helpline so more than 28,000 Northern Ireland households without a direct electricity supplier can apply for £600 energy bill support.
NRLA backs Money Saving Boiler Challenge as 2.5m renters may be missing out on energy savings
The National Residential Landlords Association has partnered with Nesta's Money Saving Boiler Challenge, as research suggests more than 2.5 million private rented households may be missing out on savings of around £112 a year.
£200 Alternative Fuel Payments to off-gas-grid households begin
Households across Great Britain that do not use mains gas for heating began receiving £200 Alternative Fuel Payments automatically as credits on their electricity bills from 6 February 2023.
Improved energy standards for new homes introduced
The most recent improvement to energy standards for new homes was introduced in February 2023, the Scottish Government has confirmed in a progress report on its fuel poverty strategy.
- January 2023
E3G publishes briefing urging tighter energy efficiency rules for UK landlords
E3G has published a briefing arguing that raising minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes in the UK would save tenants £570 a year and the economy £1.75bn a year.
Government publishes new details on cost of living payments
The UK Government has published new details of cost of living payments running from spring 2023 to spring 2024, as National Energy Action warns the support will not stop millions being pushed into fuel poverty.
Charities call for social energy tariff as research shows a quarter of over-60s in cold homes
Age UK polling shows a quarter of over-60s live in homes colder than they would like, as 100 charities and non-profits write to the Chancellor calling for a social energy tariff.
Government announces cut in fuel poverty support for next winter
The Government has announced reduced financial support for households in fuel poverty in 2023/24, with energy bills set to rise from 1 April 2023 as the Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
Hypothermia cases in England surge during energy bills crisis
Hypothermia cases in England rose 82 per cent in December 2022 against the same month a year earlier, figures reported during the energy bills crisis show.