Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland news from 2026
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- November 2026
Welsh Government announces £130m cost of living support package
The Welsh Government has announced a £130m cost of living package for this winter, including a £100 energy payment for council tax bands A to D and a £250 payment for off-grid households on heating oil or LPG.
- October 2026
Letters confirming £150 Warm Home Discount to reach thousands of Scottish households
Letters confirming the £150 Warm Home Discount are being sent to Scottish households from October 2026, with around 345,000 set to receive the rebate automatically this winter.
Scottish Government publishes heat in buildings strategy progress update
The Scottish Government has published a progress update on its heat in buildings strategy, marking 50,000 households supported through Warmer Homes Scotland and a promised social landlord standard in 2027.
- September 2026
Scottish Government announces winter heating payments for over 1 million people from autumn 2026
The Scottish Government says an estimated 1.4 million winter heating payments will be made from October 2026, with rates set at £62.00, £265.50 and between £105.55 and £316.70.
Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme extended into winter
The Scottish Government has extended the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme beyond its initial six months, keeping support open for low-income households using heating oil and LPG over winter.
Scottish Government publishes fuel poverty scenario modelling for October to December 2026 price cap period
Scottish Government modelling estimates around 820,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 32 per cent of all households, for the October to December 2026 price cap period, up around 20,000 on the previous quarter.
NISEP schemes for 2026/27 approved and live
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme's schemes for 2026-2027 have been approved and are live, drawing on an £8 million fund collected from electricity customers.
Scottish Government publishes Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 confirming heat in buildings legislation
The Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 confirms a long-delayed heat in buildings bill, but makes no mention of fuel poverty in its plans.
- August 2026
Scottish EPC reform delayed to 30 April 2028
Scottish ministers have pushed back the introduction of new-style Energy Performance Certificates, validity periods and rating systems to 30 April 2028, while lodgement fees still rise this October.
Pembrokeshire FRAME secures VCMA funding for two-year energy support project
Wales & West Utilities has awarded VCMA funding to Pembrokeshire FRAME for a two-year project giving energy support to more than 5,000 residents in the county.
Scottish Government published an updated BRIA for amended EPC regulations
The Scottish Government has published an updated impact assessment for amended Energy Performance Certificate regulations, confirming that previously identified impacts stand but their timing has shifted.
- July 2026
£17 million additional funding announced for Welsh housing retrofit schemes
The Welsh Government is putting a further £17 million from existing budgets into housing retrofit schemes, including more for the Nest scheme and the Optimised Retrofit Programme.
Welsh Government publishes Warm Homes Programme review report and response
The Welsh Government has published its review of the Warm Homes Programme and committed a further £17 million to retrofit schemes, including £5 million more for the Nest scheme.
Core Group eligibility in Scotland expanded from 2026/27
The Scottish Government has decided that Core Group eligibility for the Warm Home Discount in Scotland will align with the qualifying benefits list for the Scottish Winter Heating Payment as of December 2025.
- June 2026
Permitted development rights for air source heat pumps updated in Wales
Permitted development rights for air source heat pumps in Wales were updated on 1 June 2026, raising the unit size limit, allowing two units on detached homes and permitting air-to-air installations.
- May 2026
Wales' first hydrogen home opens to visitors
Wales & West Utilities has opened a retrofitted terraced home heated with green hydrogen to public visitors, calling it Wales' first hydrogen home and a UK-first retrofit of its kind.
Intended introduction of Heat in Buildings Bill after Scottish election
The Scottish Government has paused its Heat in Buildings Bill and now intends to introduce it after the Scottish Parliament returns following the May 2026 election, subject to the outcome.
Public consultation on Warm Healthy Homes Fund opens
Northern Ireland's Department for Communities has opened a public consultation on the Warm Healthy Homes Fund, its planned replacement for the Affordable Warmth Scheme, running until 19 August 2026.
- April 2026
Warm Home Discount (Scotland) Regulations 2026 consented
Treasury consent was given on 29th April 2026 to regulations continuing the Warm Home Discount in Scotland to 31st March 2031, with a £150 rebate and supplier obligations set out in law.
Energy Saving Trust published its response to the Welsh Government’s Building Regulations Part L and F Review: Stage 2B
The Energy Saving Trust has published its response to the Welsh Government's Building Regulations Part L and F Review Stage 2B, covering energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings and overheating in new homes.
Welsh Government publishes Approved Document L 2026 and Approved Document F Volume 1
The Welsh Government has published Approved Document L 2026 Volumes 1 and 2 and Approved Document F, Ventilation, Volume 1, setting new build fabric and ventilation standards for Wales.
- March 2026
Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme opens for applications
The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme has opened to applications, paying £300 directly to the oil or LPG supplier of eligible low-income and vulnerable households in Scotland.
Welsh Government statement on rising energy costs from Middle East conflict
The Welsh Government has set out its response to energy costs rising after the Middle East conflict, welcoming an oil reserve release and a heating oil review and pointing households to Nest advice.
Welsh Government issued circular WGC 003/2026
The Welsh Government has issued circular WGC 003/2026, setting out Building Regulations amendments that will require on-site renewable electricity generation on new homes in Wales from March 2027.
Affordable Warmth Scheme extended to March 2026
The Affordable Warmth Scheme in Northern Ireland has been extended for a further two years, continuing until March 2026, with £14m available this year for energy efficiency works.
Nest crisis route for boiler repair or replacement scheduled to end
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the one-off crisis route within its Warm Homes Nest scheme, which helps eligible households with no heating or hot water, currently runs only until March 2026.
Scotland published its Climate Change Plan: 2026–2040
The Scottish Government published its Climate Change Plan 2026–2040 in March 2026, setting out how Scotland intends to reach its legally binding net zero target for all greenhouse gases by 2045.
- February 2026
Summary of responses published for Part L 2025 review
The Welsh Government has published its summary of responses to the 2025 review of Building Regulations Part L, covering planned changes to energy efficiency standards in new and existing buildings.
Nesta publishes analysis calling for 110,000 heat pump installations in Scotland over next Parliament
Nesta analysis says Scotland needs about 110,000 heat pump and low carbon heating installations between May 2026 and May 2031, triple the current number, against a draft plan implying 30,000.
Warm Healthy Homes Strategy announced for Northern Ireland
The Department for Communities has announced a Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026 to 2036 for Northern Ireland, intended to help address fuel poverty in a housing stock where oil is the dominant heating fuel.
Energy Saving Trust publishes response to Scottish Government equity loan call for evidence
Energy Saving Trust has published its response to a Scottish Government call for evidence, backing expansion of the Home Energy Efficiency Equity Loan Pilot into a nationwide support scheme.
Northern Ireland announces Warm Healthy Homes Fund launching 2027
Northern Ireland's Department for Communities has opened a consultation on a Warm Healthy Homes Fund, due to launch in 2027 with £150 million of investment over its first five years.
- January 2026
Feedback published on Heat in Buildings Bill consultation
The Scottish Government has dropped plans to ban polluting heating in individual homes, publishing consultation feedback that shifts the Heat in Buildings Bill to collective targets and delays its introduction.
Scottish Government plans introduction of draft buildings and heat networks Bill in next Parliament
The Scottish Government has published its response to the Heat in Buildings Bill consultation and confirmed the draft Bill will not be introduced before the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
Minister publishes response to consultation on Low Carbon Heating Support
Northern Ireland's Economy Minister has published the government response to a consultation on support for low carbon heating in homes, setting out findings from 107 responses and next steps.
Welsh Government announces £98.75 million for next round of Optimised Retrofit Programme
The Welsh Government has announced £98.75 million for the next round of the Optimised Retrofit Programme, taking total investment in social housing energy efficiency since 2020 past £466 million.
SSEN returns to 'Weather Warning' preparedness level for north of Scotland
SSEN has returned to its first heightened preparedness level for the north of Scotland, bringing in extra engineers and contact centre staff ahead of high winds, low temperatures and further snow.