Warm Homes Plan briefing

This briefing explores how the energy performance of homes has improved but calls for government to go further and faster to get UK homes on track to meet net zero.

This briefing analyses English Housing Survey data to examine the energy efficiency of homes in England. It also outlines the steps that need to be taken for further improvement under the UK government’s Warm Homes Plan.

The briefing looks at the energy performance levels of homes and the progress that has been made across all tenures of housing.

Key findings

In this briefing note BRE highlights data from the English Housing Survey including:

Over half of English homes – 52% - now have an Energy Performance Certificate banding of C or better; a major improvement over 20 years.
However, we’re not going fast enough to bring all homes where practicable to EPC C within the next decade.
90% of below C homes are in the private sector.
8.3m below C homes are owned by owner occupiers.
In 2023, E, F and G banded homes account for 55% of the fuel poverty gap: the £1.3bn total reduction of energy costs needed across all English fuel poor households. (Source: Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics).
Across the English regions, the South West has the largest number of the least efficient E, F and G homes. We also highlight the health costs of these cold homes. Read more about the impact of cold homes on heath.
Councils and devolved administrations are key to the delivery of the government’s Warm Homes Plan especially given the new government’s ambitious plans for local government reform and increased devolution.

Our approach to the remaining energy inefficient homes will require consideration to ensure the Warm Homes Plan can target a much wider group of households with effective support

– Jane Goddard, Managing Director, Building Performance Services and Deputy CEO of BRE.

Jane Goddard, Managing Director, Building Performance Services and Deputy CEO of BRE.

“We have made encouraging progress to date on retrofitting our existing housing stock, with over half of English homes now meeting the reasonable EPC C standard. That’s been achieved through government programmes but also millions of homeowners steadily improving their homes’ insulation, lighting and heating systems.

However, we need to go faster to tackle the remaining below EPC C homes. An approach to the remaining energy inefficient homes will require consideration to ensure the Warm Homes Plan can target a much wider group of households with effective support.

Local authorities will be crucial in this journey and require the necessary data, capacity, funding and powers to deliver energy efficiency improvements to homes most in need. The upcoming English Devolution Bill will hopefully mark a welcome step in this process.”