Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for
Energy Security and Net Zero (): The Government was
elected on a promise to deliver warmer homes with lower energy
bills for families across the country. Decent homes are the
foundation of decent lives, and our Warm Homes Plan is driven by
a simple principle: every household deserves the security of a
home they can afford to heat.
Today, I am pleased to confirm funding for the Warm Homes Plan
that means that next year more homes will benefit from upgrades
to make them more energy efficient and cheaper to run, more than
double the number of upgrades delivered last year. Next year will
see a total investment of £3.2bn from government, social housing
providers and obligations on suppliers.
As part of the changes we are announcing today, more households
will now be able to install an air source heat pump without the
need to submit a planning application. The Government is removing
the rule requiring heat pumps to be installed at least one metre
away from a property's boundary, which was an outdated regulation
that prevented thousands of installations.
In addition, the Government is increasing direct grant support
for heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, adding £30
million for the rest of this financial year and doubling the
budget for the next financial year to £295 million. We are also
setting out plans to consult on further increases to energy
efficiency standards for both new heat pumps and new boilers,
helping households save money off their bills.
We recognise that to deliver the Warm Homes Plan, support for the
supply chain will be critical. That is why we will be providing
investment in homegrown heat pump production through the Heat
Pump Investment Accelerator Competition, and stimulating further
investment in the supply chain through the introduction of a
reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, for which we are laying a
statutory instrument today. Ministers have been engaging closely
with industry on a shared vision for the transition to cleaner,
cheaper heating and look forward to continuing that constructive
dialogue and partnership during the further development and
delivery of the Warm Homes Plan.
Over the coming months, I look forward to building on the
announcements made today and publishing our Warm Homes Plan in
full. This will detail our new approach to delivering warmer
homes with lower energy bills, tackling the fuel poverty
currently experienced by too many people, and creating new
opportunities for jobs, skills, and investment right across the
country.
