Home » Insights » The impact of the Warm Homes Fund
We recently welcomed representatives from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to Halton to see first-hand the progress being made through the Warm Homes programme and the difference it is making for residents.
As one of the UK’s leading retrofit delivery partners, WPS works with housing providers across the country to help improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. Visits like this provide an important opportunity to move beyond programme statistics and see the real-world outcomes being achieved through collaboration between government, housing providers and delivery partners.
The visit showcased the retrofit work being delivered by Riverside to improve the energy efficiency of homes across Halton. Through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2.1 programme, 245 homes benefited from improvements backed by £10 million of investment.
Building on their success in Wave 2.1, the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 programme has already seen 113 homes retrofitted in year 1 – with a further 200 homes currently being upgraded in year 2, representing a combined investment of more than £5 million.
As Riverside’s national delivery partner across the Wave 3 programme, WPS and Constructive Thinking are supporting the delivery of this long-term investment programme across multiple communities, helping to turn funding into tangible outcomes for residents, neighbourhoods and local economies.
As we look towards greater devolution and closer collaboration with Combined Authorities, there is a real opportunity to connect national funding with local priorities and deliver programmes that have a lasting impact in the places where people live. Riverside’s role as an anchor institution in Halton, alongside its significant presence across the Liverpool City region, is a good example of how that can work. The story is similar in Liverpool, where 404 homes were retrofitted through Wave 2.1, with a further 419 targeted across Years 1 and 2 of Wave 3.
In total, over 3000 homes will benefit from energy efficiency improvements as part of our Wave 3 Strategic Partnership with Riverside. The shared ambition of all involved will have a transformational impact to homes, families and communities.
Building skills and careers
For us as delivery partners, the scale of the programme also creates opportunities beyond the physical improvement of homes. One of the most encouraging aspects has been seeing how the programme is creating skills and employment opportunities. We have some great examples within our site teams of people developing their careers through the work, including a Riverside resident who has gone on to join WPS as a Resident Liaison Officer.
At the same time, Riverside has been able to enhance its own internal capability. The consistency of funding and support has enabled it to bring 100% of Retrofit Coordination in-house for Wave 3. That is a significant development and demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations have the confidence to invest in long-term capability.
Making a difference to bills and everyday life
Of course, the fundamental purpose of this work is to improve people’s homes. Across the programme, measures including external and cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, glazing and ventilation are helping to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Through the PAS 2035 process, modelling can also help identify the potential energy savings associated with the improvements being made.
There is further opportunity ahead in Halton, with Riverside intending to progress heating upgrades to off-grid homes and low-carbon heating solutions for on-grid homes over the coming years. That combination of fabric improvements and low-carbon heating has the potential to make an important difference to residents – particularly at a time when household energy costs remain such a significant concern.
The wider value of retrofit
But warmer, more energy-efficient homes are only part of the story. Retrofit at scale has the power to deliver lasting social value, creating jobs, developing local skills, engaging residents, supporting community initiatives and enhancing green spaces. Together, these benefits help strengthen communities and ensure the impact of investment extends far beyond the front door.
The progress we are seeing in Halton and Liverpool, as well as the other neighbourhoods we are working in with Riverside, and other housing providers across England, shows what sustained investment and partnership can deliver when everyone is working towards the same objective.
For me, the ambition must be about more than completing retrofit programmes. It is about leaving behind warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient homes, stronger local skills and capability, and communities that are better equipped for the future. That is the opportunity in front of us as Wave 3 continues – and one we should all be focused on making the most of.
