The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is set to end on 31 March 2026. This article explains what support will be available for home insulation from April 2026 onwards.
The Great British Insulation Scheme is not replaced by a single scheme. From April 2026, insulation support comes through the expanded ECO+ and local-authority programmes under the Warm Homes Plan. Check your eligibility separately for each route.
- GBIS ends 31 March 2026 with no single successor scheme.
- Insulation support continues via the expanded ECO+ scheme from April 2026.
- The Warm Homes Plan is the umbrella framework, not a direct grant.
- Funding is accessed through local authorities and approved installers.
- Check your eligibility separately for ECO+ and council-led programmes.
- The Great British Insulation Scheme ends in March 2026 and is not being directly replaced by a single new scheme
- The Warm Homes Plan is the government's main successor framework, not a single grant
- ECO+ will continue as the primary supplier-obligation route for insulation after GBIS ends
- Quick numbers cost, savings, and eligibility thresholds side by side
- Eligibility for the replacement schemes depends on your EPC rating and household income or benefits
- You must use an MCS-certified installer to qualify for any grant or scheme incentive
- The direct answer what will replace the Great British Insulation Scheme
- How to apply for insulation funding under the new schemes from April 2026
The replacement is not a single new scheme. Instead, insulation funding will be delivered through two main routes: the expanded ECO+ scheme and a new local-authority-led programme under the government’s Warm Homes Plan. You will need to check your eligibility for each route separately.
The Great British Insulation Scheme ends in March 2026 and is not being directly replaced by a single new scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is funded until 31 March 2026, as confirmed by the latest Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) scheme guidance (GOV.UK, 2026). No single like-for-like successor programme has been announced as of January 2026.
The replacement will be a combination of the expanded ECO scheme (ECO+) and a new local-authority-led programme under the Warm Homes Plan. Homeowners should expect to access insulation support through multiple routes rather than one central scheme.
The Warm Homes Plan is the government’s main successor framework, not a single grant
The Warm Homes Plan, announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget and detailed in the 2026 DESNZ policy paper, is the umbrella strategy for home energy upgrades from April 2026 (GOV.UK, 2026). It bundles funding for insulation, heat pumps, and solar into a single delivery framework.
The Plan is not a grant you apply for directly. It funnels money through local authorities, energy suppliers, and registered installers. You will need to contact your local council or an approved installer to find out what funding is available in your area.
ECO+ will continue as the primary supplier-obligation route for insulation after GBIS ends
ECO+ (Energy Company Obligation) is the statutory scheme that already runs alongside GBIS and will absorb its insulation targets from April 2026. The 2026 ECO+ target is to deliver insulation measures to 450,000 low-income and fuel-poor households by March 2028, per the latest Ofgem ECO annual report (Ofgem, 2026). Eligibility mirrors GBIS: households on certain benefits or with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F, or G.
An EPC rating is a measure of how energy efficient your home is, from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). If you are eligible, your energy supplier must offer free or subsidised insulation.
Quick numbers cost, savings, and eligibility thresholds side by side
| Scheme | Typical grant value for loft insulation | Typical grant value for cavity wall insulation | Estimated annual bill saving | EPC threshold | Income/benefit threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBIS (ending March 2026) | Up to £1,000 | Up to £1,500 | £200–£300 | D, E, F, G | Qualifying benefits or low income |
| ECO+ (from April 2026) | Up to £1,000 | Up to £1,500 | £200–£300 | D, E, F, G | Qualifying benefits or low income |
| Warm Homes Plan (from April 2026) | Varies by local authority | Varies by local authority | £200–£300 | D, E, F, G | Low-income area (IMD top 20%) or benefits |
Savings figures are based on Energy Saving Trust typical estimates for a gas-heated semi-detached home (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). Actual savings depend on your home’s size, current insulation levels, and heating system.
Eligibility for the replacement schemes depends on your EPC rating and household income or benefits
For ECO+, eligibility requires an EPC rating of D or below and receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, such as Pension Credit, Income Support, or Child Tax Credit under a certain threshold (Ofgem, 2026). The Warm Homes Plan adds a new local-authority route for households with an EPC rating of D to G who are not on benefits but live in a low-income area. This is defined as an area in the top 20% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) (GOV.UK, 2026).
The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a government measure that ranks areas in England based on income, employment, health, and other factors. If you are unsure about your eligibility, contact your local council or energy supplier.
You must use an MCS-certified installer to qualify for any grant or scheme incentive
All insulation work funded under ECO+ or the Warm Homes Plan must be installed by a company registered with MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) and TrustMark (MCS, 2026). For cavity wall and loft insulation, the installer must also hold a valid certification from the relevant scheme, such as BBA (British Board of Agrément) or INCA (Insulated Render and Cladding Association) for cavity wall.
To verify an installer, use the MCS installer database at mcscertified.com and check their TrustMark registration at trustmark.org.uk (TrustMark, 2026). Using an uncertified installer will mean you cannot access any grant funding and may void your building warranty.
how to find a certified installer for home insulation grants
The direct answer what will replace the Great British Insulation Scheme
The Great British Insulation Scheme is replaced from April 2026 by the expanded ECO+ scheme and the new Warm Homes Plan funding delivered through local councils. No single standalone scheme called “the replacement” exists. Instead, insulation support is folded into broader energy-efficiency programmes.
Homeowners should contact their local authority or an MCS-certified installer to check which route they qualify for from April 2026 (DESNZ, 2026; Ofgem, 2026).
How to apply for insulation funding under the new schemes from April 2026
For ECO+, contact your energy supplier directly. They are obliged to offer free or subsidised insulation to eligible households. For the Warm Homes Plan local-authority route, visit your council’s website and search for “Warm Homes Plan” or “home energy grant”. There is no single national online portal. The application process is decentralised.
You can use the GOV.UK page “Find energy grants for your home” to see what is available in your area (GOV.UK, 2026). Each local authority publishes its own scheme guidance, so check your council’s website for specific details.
how to apply for ECO+ insulation funding through your energy supplier
Frequently Asked Questions
No single scheme replaces GBIS. From April 2026, insulation support is delivered through the expanded ECO+ scheme and a local-authority-led programme under the Warm Homes Plan, as confirmed by DESNZ and GOV.UK.
The Great British Insulation Scheme ends on 31 March 2026, according to the latest DESNZ scheme guidance published on GOV.UK in 2026.
The Warm Homes Plan is the government's umbrella strategy for home energy upgrades from April 2026, announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget and detailed in a 2026 DESNZ policy paper. It bundles funding for insulation, heat pumps, and solar through local authorities and registered installers.
You cannot apply for a single grant. Contact your local council for Warm Homes Plan funding or check with approved installers for ECO+ insulation support, as confirmed by GOV.UK.
Yes, ECO+ continues as the primary supplier-obligation route for insulation from April 2026, absorbing GBIS insulation targets, according to DESNZ guidance.
