The government launched the £1 billion Great British Insulation Scheme on 14 September 2023, describing it as "open for business", with an online eligibility checker and a support line on 0800 098 7950 going live the same day1. The scheme is expected to fund energy efficiency improvements for 300,000 households2, on top of the 2.4 million homes the government says have received measures under existing support schemes1.
Eligibility is set by council tax band and energy performance. Households in bands A to D in England, and A to E in Scotland and Wales, with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below, are eligible1. Elmhurst Energy states that homeowners, landlords and tenants, whether renting privately or from a social housing provider, fall within this2. The scheme is administered by Ofgem, as ECO is, and energy suppliers are obligated to install the measures, with costs partially or fully covered depending on the measure and any property issues2.
| Nation | Council tax bands eligible |
|---|---|
| England | A to D |
| Scotland | A to E |
| Wales | A to E |
The government said upgrades such as roof, loft or cavity wall insulation could cut an annual energy bill by an average of between £300 and £4001. Elmhurst Energy reports the same £300 to £400 range2. The scheme, previously known as ECO+, was announced in November 2022 and focuses solely on insulation and heating control measures, with no requirement to improve a property by a set number of EPC bands, though all measures must be delivered in accordance with PAS 20352. Elmhurst Energy lists cavity wall, solid wall, loft, flat or pitched roof, underfloor, solid floor, park home and room-in-roof insulation among the measures covered, and notes that secondary measures such as room thermostats may be available to households in the low-income group3. It also sets out two eligibility groups: a low-income group for claimants of benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Child Benefit, and a general group for homeowners in the qualifying bands with an EPC rating of D to G3.
"We are determined to help families keep their homes warm through the winter months and save on their energy costs."
A separate checker was launched for the Home Upgrade Grant, which the government says could help as many as 25,000 off-the-gas-grid homes with an EPC rating of D to G, covering insulation and draught proofing, new windows and doors, heat pumps and solar panels1. Elmhurst Energy puts the figure at up to 25,000 homes in England that are off the gas grid with an EPC rating of D to G, with measures funded by local councils2. Households using the online tools are referred either to their energy supplier, for ECO and the Great British Insulation Scheme, or to their local council for the Home Upgrade Grant1.
Why it matters for households
The scheme's qualifying test is the fabric of the home rather than the household's income alone: a low council tax band and an EPC rating of D or below are the entry conditions for the general group1. For a home in that position, a single insulation measure is the route on offer, in contrast to the whole-house approach of ECO43. The government's own comparison is that 14% of homes had an EPC rating of C or above in 2010, against 47% in 20221. Insulation reduces the heat a home loses, which lowers the energy needed to keep it warm and lessens exposure to price movements on the fuel it uses. Eligibility does not guarantee installation: Elmhurst Energy states that meeting the criteria does not mean a supplier or installer will fit a measure3.
What happens next
Households can use the online checker or call 0800 098 7950, after which they are referred to their energy supplier or local council1. The scheme runs alongside the existing Energy Company Obligation1. No end date for the scheme is given in these announcements.
Sources3 cited
- Great British Insulation Scheme Opens | News | Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency, swiga.co.uk
- Great British Insulation Scheme Launched - Elmhurst Energy, elmhurstenergy.co.uk
- Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) Grants Available - Elmhurst Energy, elmhurstenergy.co.uk