The next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme will run from April 2023, according to the Welsh Government's cold weather resilience plan for people at risk of living in a cold home1. The plan, published in February 2022, sets out how the government will work with partners to support vulnerable and lower income households during cold weather1.
The Warm Homes Programme offers advice and support to lower income households to improve the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of their homes1. Since its inception, and as of the end of March 2021, more than £394m has been invested to improve home energy efficiency through the programme in Wales, benefiting more than 67,100 homes1. Within that figure, more than 160,000 households have received free and impartial advice on improving domestic energy efficiency and reducing fuel bills1.
The plan sets three objectives: to provide advice and support to vulnerable and lower income households to prepare for cold weather; to help low income householders maintain or improve the energy and thermal efficiency of their homes; and to work with partners to co-ordinate advice and support services to reduce the risk of avoidable ill health from living in a cold home1. It links to the Tackling Fuel Poverty Plan 2021-2035, whose policy goals include identifying people in or at risk of fuel poverty, prioritising the worst first, improving the fabric of lower income homes, and influencing the UK Government, the regulator and energy companies1.
The plan also describes other support in place at the time of publication. The Discretionary Assistance Fund makes Emergency Assistance Payments as a non-repayable grant; in November 2018 it was expanded to support people unable to meet the cost of a call out fee for a gas safe engineer and minor repair, with payments of up to £120 authorised subject to eligibility criteria1. A pilot scheme introduced in 2020-21 provided emergency assistance payments of up to £175 to purchase oil and liquefied gas for off grid households1. A Winter Fuel Support Scheme for 2021-22 was announced on 16 November, a £38 million fund providing a one-off payment of £100 to households where one member receives certain welfare benefits1.
"Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme from April 2023."
The plan states that around 18% of homes in Wales are not connected to the gas grid, many in rural areas and often reliant on heating oil, liquid gas and coal1. It also notes that the Warm Homes Programme was originally established as a pilot for winter 2018-19, delivered by Care and Repair Cymru and funded by the Welsh Government since January 20191.
Why it matters for households
For a household in Wales on a lower income, the programme is the main route to advice and to funded energy efficiency improvements, which affect how much energy a home needs to stay warm and how exposed it is to price rises. The plan's stated approach prioritises the households in most need and improving the fabric of lower income homes, which bears directly on a home's running costs and its ability to keep heat in1. Off grid homes, around 18% of Welsh homes, face different costs and risks because they depend on delivered fuels rather than a gas connection1.
What happens next
The plan states the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme will run from April 20231. No further detail on its scope, eligibility or funding for that iteration is given in the plan.
Sources1 cited
- WG Warm Homes Programme, gov.wales