Government Introduce £2bn “Green Homes Grant”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that families will receive vouchers of up to £5,000 for energy-saving changes, such as insulation measures under a new Green Homes Grant.

The Green Homes Grant as been set up to help the recovery of the economy following impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The chancellor confirmed that from September, owner, occupiers and landlords will be able to apply for vouchers through the £2bn scheme to make their homes more energy efficient.

The £3bn of funding is set to last a year and is regarded as a “significant down payment” on the government’s longer term energy efficiency plans. 

The grants will cover at least two-thirds of the cost of the work, such as wall, loft and floor insulation, up to a limit of £5,000 per home.

Low-income households will be eligible for vouchers covering the full, cost up to £10,000.

As well as the £2bn voucher scheme and the £50m social housing pilot, the government will release £1bn to improve the energy efficiency of public sector buildings. The aim is to help support the decarbonisation of public buildings and social housing.

The £3bn of funding is set to last a year and is regarded as a “significant down payment” on the government’s longer term energy efficiency plans. 

Mr Sunak said today: “Taken together we expect these measures to make over 650,000 homes more energy efficient, save households up to £300 a year on their bills, cut carbon by half a megaton per year equivalent to taking 270,000 cars off the road…”