Great British Insulation Scheme

The Great British Insulation Scheme has been running since April 2023 and will continue to provide grant funding on a case-by-case basis to eligible households until March 2026. Administered by Ofgem, this scheme is unique in that it requires medium and large energy companies to fund the approved energy efficiency measures, thus reducing the amount of energy used by the worst-performing properties in the UK's housing portfolio.

Unlike other government grant schemes, the Great British Insulation Scheme's eligibility criteria are very broad, and all home-owners and tenants with landlord permission may apply for retrofit measures to be installed in their property, provided that the property's Energy Performance Certificate rating is Band D or lower and its council tax band is A to D.

This scheme usually only allows one energy efficiency measure to be installed at each property, although some customers on particularly low incomes or highly vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold environment may qualify for additional measures on a case-by-case basis.

Measures that the Great British Insulation Scheme will Fund

When a householder applies for funding under this scheme, an assessor will visit their home to determine which of these options will deliver the greatest benefit:

• Cavity wall insulation. This process can dramatically reduce heat loss by filling the cavity wall with insulation that is injected into it through small holes that are drilled into the exterior wall and then sealed afterward.
• Solid wall insulation. Properties with solid, single-layer walls may benefit from the addition of insulating material being fixed to the exterior walls prior to re-rendering.
• Loft insulation. This is a very common retrofit measure as it is low cost and high impact. Insulating a loft is a simple process in which insulation matting is installed into the base of the loft space to reduce heat loss through the roof.
• Pitched roof insulation. A huge amount of heat loss occurs through the roof, so fixing insulation in between the rafters in the roof space can make a huge difference to occupant comfort and heating bills.
• Flat roof insulation. Flat roofs can be insulated in one of two ways – either through adding insulation material between the rafters and the deck, or by installing it above the structural timber deck.
• Underfloor insulation. Homes with a suspended floor may benefit from the gap below being filled with insulating material to reduce heat loss through the floor.
• Solid floor insulation. Insulation foam can be fitted either above or below the concrete to reduce heat loss through the floor.
• Park home insulation. It is often possible to dramatically improve the energy performance of park homes by fixing foil-clad panels to their undersides or by externally cladding them with fixed wall insulation.
• Room-in-roof insulation. Loft conversions can be made more thermally efficient with the installation of appropriate insulation.

The assessor will recommend an appropriate measure based on a cost-benefit analysis. The aim is always to strike a balance between achieving the greatest impact at the lowest cost.

How Much Will the Insulation Upgrade Cost?

The vast majority of the installations delivered under this scheme will be at no cost to householders, however, in some rare cases, applicants may be asked to contribute towards the cost of the works. This will be made clear before work begins in order that householders can make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed.

Contact us to Learn More

Next Energy is proud to be an approved installer for this scheme and our team has considerable experience in assessing properties, making appropriate recommendations and delivering energy efficiency retrofits.

Whether you wish to discuss your eligibility criteria, book a home assessment, or seek support in applying for this, or any other government grant scheme for which we are approved installers, please contact us today.

We look forward to helping you to realise your dream of a warm, comfortable, and affordable home.