The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) was announced in March 2023, a government-backed programme administered by Ofgem, the energy regulator, to make insulation more accessible for homeowners, landlords and tenants across England, Scotland and Wales1. It was intended to tackle fuel poverty, reduce household energy bills and contribute to the UK's carbon reduction targets2.
The scheme delivered single, lower-cost insulation measures rather than a whole-house approach, so that as many homes as possible could be improved quickly2. Measures covered included loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, internal and external solid wall insulation, and pitched roof, flat roof, under-floor, solid floor, park home and room-in-roof insulation2. Eligibility ran through two routes. Households receiving certain income-related benefits, including Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit, could qualify under the low-income group2. Under the general group, the property needed an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G, and had to fall within Council Tax bands A to D in England, or A to E in Scotland and Wales2. Landlords could apply, but tenants needed their landlord's permission before installation work took place2. Applications were typically made through the GOV.UK website, with work carried out by a TrustMark registered installer and the cost, or a contribution towards it, covered by the scheme2.
The scheme closed to new applicants in October 2025, and the GOV.UK referral service closed on 31 March 2026, with all installations required to be completed by that date2. GBIS, along with the ECO scheme, had been scheduled to end on 31 March 2026, and the earlier closure to new applicants allowed energy suppliers time to process existing applications and complete installations before the final deadline2. The ECO4 scheme continues to run, generally focusing on more extensive, whole-house energy efficiency improvements for low-income and vulnerable households2.
A House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee report published on 9 May 2025 recorded that GBIS "was announced in March 2023" and that government retrofit support schemes have been too numerous, complicated and short-term, which has failed to instil confidence among consumers, installers and the supply chain1. The committee called on the government to provide far longer-term certainty for its retrofit support schemes, launch a national warm homes advice service and introduce a carbon metric to certify the energy performance of homes1.
"Most witnesses told us that government schemes to support home retrofit have lacked the long-term funding commitments needed to provide consumers, installers and the supply chain with confidence."
Why it matters for households
The committee report sets out the scale of the task. At least 80% of buildings that will be occupied in 2050 have already been built, and the UK housing stock is among the least energy efficient in Europe, accounting for around 13% of national greenhouse gas emissions1. Natural gas still accounts for around 85% of fuel used for domestic heating and cooking, and just 5% of homes use low carbon heating systems1. Two thirds of households live in draughty, damp or overheated homes1.
The financial picture is equally stark. The Climate Change Committee estimates that around £250bn of investment will be needed to decarbonise the UK's homes between 2020 and 2050, equating to £8bn each year1. Citizens Advice told the committee that the average cost of retrofitting an individual home, such as installing a low carbon heating system and energy efficiency upgrades, is just under £15,0001. Against that, research by Citizens Advice found that upgrading all homes to EPC Band C would deliver around £40bn in benefits to the UK economy in the period to 2030, including almost £24bn of consumer bill savings, and up to £100bn in further benefits over the following decade1.
For a household, the practical effect of insulation is a reduced demand for bought-in energy to keep a home warm, which is the core of energy independence. The committee also noted that a properly insulated home improves comfort and reduces energy bills1. Households that missed GBIS can still look at home energy grants and schemes and council and local authority energy grants, while the detail of the closed scheme, including its eligibility rules, is set out in the Great British Insulation Scheme guide and its eligibility page.
What happens next
The committee report states that the government has committed to delivering a clean power system by 2030 and has a legally binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 compared with 1990 levels1. It also records that the government consulted on EPC reform in 2024, and that in 2023 the previous government consulted on a new Home Energy Model to estimate the energy performance of homes1. In April 2025, while the report was being agreed, the government launched a consultation on proposals to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme1. No successor scheme to GBIS with confirmed launch dates is reported in these sources.
Sources2 cited
- Retrofitting homes for net zero, publications.parliament.uk
- Great British Insulation Scheme explained, fuseenergy.com