National Warm Homes Plan set to Accelerate Local Home Energy Upgrades

Wiltshire Council has welcomed the Government’s new Warm Homes Plan, as the local authority continues its efforts to support energy upgrades locally.

The Government has recently confirmed a £15 billion national programme to cut bills, tackle fuel poverty and expand access to clean, home grown energy. It focuses on energy efficiency, rooftop solar and low carbon heating, which strongly complements the council’s priorities around community wellbeing and lowering household costs – as set out in its 10-year Our Wiltshire Plan.

Warm Homes: Local Grant enters Year Two – applications open

The council is proud to mark the successful first year of Warm Homes: Local Grant, a locally led scheme helping low income households stay warm and reduce bills. Delivered alongside the national Warm Homes Plan, the programme has already funded free, tailored upgrades including insulation, solar panels, home batteries, heat pumps, ventilation improvements and essential fabric repairs.

As the scheme enters its second year, the council is inviting new qualifying households to apply. Residents with an EPC rating below C and an income of less than £36,000, are encouraged to come forward. Demand is expected to remain high, and funding is limited, so early applications are recommended. Residents can check eligibility and submit an expression of interest at https://www.gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant

Boosting local solar power

The Warm Homes Plan sets a national ambition to triple rooftop solar by 2030, in line with the council’s Climate Strategy and long standing commitment to expanding clean, affordable energy.

Solar schools pilot

Through our Solar Schools pilot project, the council supported a local school to install 218 solar panels and associated battery-storage stacks, delivering an estimated £240,000 in energy bill savings and cutting around 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ over its lifetime of 20 years; the council now hopes to scale up this model and offer support to other maintained schools across the county.

Switch Together Solar (formally known as Solar Together scheme)

Now in its fourth year, the council’s Switch Together Solar, scheme formally known as Solar Together, continues to grow in popularity. In previous years it has enabled more than 1,700 Wiltshire households to install solar panels (PV) and battery storage, with a combined investment of over £15 million into local green energy. Households, who took part in the 2024 scheme have benefited from an average bill saving of £495 a year per PV installation with expected reductions in CO₂ emissions by 33,500 tonnes over their 25-year lifetime.

Solar Together is a group-buying initiative that offers high-quality solar panel and battery storage installation from trusted suppliers at a competitive cost. It uses the principle of group buying to secure competitive prices from vetted installers. This means residents and businesses can get a better deal than they might get on the open market – with no obligation to proceed and clear, personal recommendations provided to every household or business that registers.

People can register their interest for the next round of the scheme at https://solartogether.co.uk/wiltshire/home

Cllr Paul Sample JP, Cabinet Member for Climate & Environment, said: “The national Warm Homes Plan is a welcome commitment from the Government, but here in Wiltshire we’ve already been leading the way. The programmes that are already underway and making a difference, or those that are in active development, all go towards strengthening our ability to deliver real, practical improvements for residents. That means lower bills, warmer homes and cleaner local energy.

“Underpinned by our 10-year Our Wiltshire Plan, our initiatives are central to ensuring every household can benefit from affordable, sustainable energy for years to come.”

More information about the national Warm Homes Plan can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-plan