Bristol City Council and Bristol City Leap published Bristol's Warm Homes Plan in April 2025, a joint action plan for decarbonising homes in the city over the next five years1. The document is credited to the council's Sustainable City and Climate Change Service and dated April 20251.
The plan states that homes are the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases in Bristol after transport, predominantly from burning gas for heating, which makes up just over a fifth of the city's emissions. A further 8% comes from burning fossil fuels to generate the electricity used in homes1. It puts the number of homes in Bristol at approximately 206,8001.
It records progress since 2005: gas use has fallen by a third through increased boiler efficiency and improved insulation, and the carbon impact of electricity use has reduced by two thirds as a result of increased renewable generation supplying the grid1. The plan sets out where the city stands in 2025 against an illustrative carbon neutral scenario:
| Measure | 2025 | Illustrative carbon neutral position |
|---|---|---|
| EPC C or above | 81,200 homes (39%) | 206,800 homes |
| Heat pump installations | 1,900 heat pumps (2%) | 103,400 heat pumps |
| Heat network connections | 3,400 residences connected (3%) | 103,400 residences connected |
| Solar PV | 9,000 buildings (12%) | 77,700 buildings |
| Smart meters | 128,200 homes (62%) | 206,800 homes |
The plan notes the illustrative example assumes half of homes have a heat pump and half connect to a heat network, and that in reality the numbers will differ1.
The action plan covers six areas: social housing, private housing, new build housing, heat network and energy planning, skills and supply chain, and coordination, governance and citizen involvement1. It states that decarbonising homes means removing gas completely, and that this will require significant investment by building owners1.
"Tackling carbon emissions from homes is vital for Bristol to become a carbon neutral city, but there are other benefits as homes will be warmer, healthier, and should be cheaper to heat."
The plan describes Bristol City Leap as a partnership signed by the council in 2023, and notes that the city's heat network transferred to Vattenfall Heat UK in 2023 as part of that partnership1. It also refers to a Bristol Citizens' Assembly commissioned in early 2021 that brought together 60 residents1.
Why it matters for households
The plan sets out the scale of change expected in how Bristol's homes are heated. With 2% of homes currently using heat pumps and 3% connected to heat networks, the illustrative pathway implies most homes would move away from individual gas boilers1. For a household, that points to decisions about insulation and energy performance, heating systems and, where relevant, connection to a district network.
The plan frames the transition around fairness, describing a Just Transition with a focus on maximising delivery of bill-saving measures to low-income households, and inclusive engagement with council tenants on retrofit programmes1. It also states that improving warmth through measures such as draughtproofing or loft insulation is the most important step for reducing heating costs1.
For households considering funded work, the wider landscape of grants and schemes remains separate from this plan, which sets out the council's and Bristol City Leap's own roles rather than new funding entitlements. The plan does not announce new grant rates or eligibility rules for Bristol households; those have not been reported in it.
What happens next
The plan lists several external changes it expects to respond to. The UK government is due to consult on the role of hydrogen in home heating in 20251. The Clean Heat Market Mechanism, introduced in 2025, requires heating appliance manufacturers to meet targets for annual heat pump sales as a proportion of fossil fuel boiler sales1. Ofgem will become the regulator for heat networks from 2025, ahead of heat network regulations in early 20261. Reforms to the energy performance of buildings regime, expected in 2026, will update Energy Performance Certificate metrics1.
Sources1 cited
- Bristol Warm Homes Plan, bristol.gov.uk