Comment on new Green Homes Grant statistics

Commenting on new government data showing a surge in green homes grant applications before the scheme closed, Jess Ralston, Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “The public message on decarbonising Britain’s homes cannot be clearer. Sky-high interest from the outset and a final surge just before its premature end demonstrates an overwhelming desire for a Green Homes Grant successor that can actually keep up with demand.

“Achieving our world-beating emissions targets won’t be possible without action on homes, now the most obvious policy gap. Filling this is not only vital to meeting long-term goals, but for bringing Brits along with the transition to a zero-carbon society.

“We can also see that households are up for improvements that were previously thought to be unpopular; solid wall insulation and low carbon heating each account for a fifth of total applications. This new evidence, alongside lessons learnt from the green homes grant, should give policy makers confidence to deliver the ambitious scheme that millions of families are desperate for.”

The Green homes Grant was launched in 2020. In total, there were 166,924 voucher applications for the Green Homes Grant, with 132,483 remaining after removing those rejected or withdrawn.

In March 2021, the final month of the scheme, there were 41,613 applications, the highest of any month. The next highest number of applications was in October 2020, when the scheme first launched, with 27,195 applications.

Of the primary measures, solid wall insulation (external and internal) accounted for 21.3% of applications (28,225 vouchers) and low carbon heating accounted for 20.1% (26,577 vouchers).

All data is from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Green Homes Grant voucher release, April 2021.