Warm Homes Local Grant 2025 to 2028

Birmingham City Council has appointed Next Energy, an experienced retrofit contractor, to deliver energy‑efficiency upgrades for 625 private homes across designated Retrofit Priority Areas through the Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG).

About the grant

Government guidance requires local authorities to target funding geographically. In June 2025, Cabinet approved Birmingham’s Economic and Place Strategy, identifying these areas based on:

• economic need – high deprivation and fuel poverty
• building condition – homes that are cold, expensive to heat, or affected by damp
• deliverability – communities with strong retrofit interest and ability to complete works within programme timelines

The grant

• Provides free home energy improvements to eligible low‑income households.
• Aims to reduce household fuel bills by improving energy efficiency.

Upgrades are free for eligible residents, however, landlords must contribute towards costs.

Priority areas

Warm Homes Local Grant is delivered on a place‑based approach, and is only available to residents in:

• Balsall Heath
• Bromford
• Castle Vale
• Sparkbrook
• Tyseley and Hay Mills

Government has also announced further Warm Homes funding for 2028 to 2030, which will allow new priority areas to be identified in the future.

If you live in a priority area and qualify for a grant

If you live in a priority area and meet eligibility criteria, Next Energy will arrange a technical survey of your home to determine suitable measures.

They will use a "fabric‑first approach", which prioritises insulation, and ventilation for example, trickle vents and extractor fans.

Possible energy improvements

Funded measures include:

• external or internal wall insulation
• loft, room‑in‑roof and cavity wall insulation
• air source heat pumps
• high‑heat‑retention storage heaters
• hot water cylinder insulation and thermostats
• smart / digital heating controls
• solar PV panels

Other measures may be recommended such as:

• energy‑efficient lighting
• underfloor insulation
• double glazing
• high‑temperature heat pumps
• solar thermal, or direct electric heaters

All meaures must be intalled in line with Iindustry standards.

Although you can express preferences, the measures approved will depend on:

• technical assessment
• industry standards
• value‑for‑money checks
• programme budgets

Next Energy website and contact details

You can contact Next Energy directly for service complaints.

If your complaint is unresolved, email: WHLG@birmingham.gov.uk

Page last updated: 20 February 2026