Following the release of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, Stuart Hesk, an expert in heating and renewable energy solutions and Director of Heating, at Hewer Facilities Management Ltd, says:
“While the ambition is welcome, the industry is still waiting for the finer operational details. Clarity around funding mechanisms, eligibility and delivery timelines will be critical if contractors are to mobilise at the scale required. The scrapping of EC04 created understandable uncertainty, so confidence will depend on how clearly this programme is defined and sustained. The target of upgrading five million homes is undoubtedly ambitious, but having a clear goal is important.
“We believe it is achievable provided the programme is maintained across parliamentary terms and backed by long term policy stability. The continued support of the BUS grant is particularly reassuring, as it gives businesses just like ours the confidence to invest in skills, training, and new jobs to support the low carbon transition.
“Overall, this plan signals that the Government is validating its commitment to decarbonisation, and with the right detail and long-term backing it could represent a significant opportunity for households, social housing providers, and the wider industry.”
On affordability
“The Warm Homes Plan is a positive and much needed step for households struggling with high energy bills and highlights the Government’s continued commitment to decarbonising the UK’s housing stock. Supporting low-income households and social housing residents at scale has the potential to deliver real, long-term benefits in comfort, affordability, and carbon reduction.
“We are encouraged by the focus on making clean energy technologies more accessible. We are already working to make retrofit heat pump solutions affordable within the BUS grant, helping to bring installation costs to a level that can compete with, or even undercut, traditional gas boiler replacements. When combined with solar PV and battery storage, these solutions can deliver significant reductions in energy bills for homeowners and social landlords alike.”
