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Public Building Retrofit fund


Public Building Retrofit fund has now launched!

The Public Building Retrofit fund provides grants to help public sector organisations in Greater Manchester reduce carbon emissions from their buildings. 

Like the fund’s national counterpart, the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the main strategic objective of the fund is to reduce direct carbon emissions from public sector buildings. 

Unlocked through devolved powers, Greater Manchester Combined Authority will make capital funding of more than £28 million across three years available to support public sector organisations to decarbonise their estates. 

GMCA will make up to £28M of capital funding available from 2025 to 2028. ​

£1.6M in 2025/26​

£13.2M in 2026/27​

£13.2M in 2027/28

Applicants should plan which window they apply for, which will best fit the delivery of their project

We encourage all potential applicants to review the Public Building Retrofit fund guidance and application form in the key downloads section below. 

Sign-up for our webinar for more information

Sign-up here

Application process

Public Building Retrofit fund will have two gateways, for more detailed information please review Public Building Retrofit fund guidance and application form in the key downloads section below.

You must register your project 

Register here
  1. Receive details to access the SharePoint platform.
  2. Gateway 1 application process commences.
  3. Quality control check.
  4. Gateway 1 application scored and assessed.
  5. Successful applicants invited to apply for Gateway 2.
  6. Applicant submits Gateway 2 application.
  7. Full technical assessment.
  8. Successful applicants will be issued with a Grant Offer Letter.
  9. Project commences.

Please note, applications will be prioritised on:

  • Project Impact​ - prioritising those with higher carbon intensity.
  • Project Readiness​ - prioritising those that are most progressed with a clear plan and identified match funding.
  • Strategic Importance​ - prioritising those with clear strategic need and alignment to the GM 5-year Environment Plan.
  • Existing Building Performance​ - prioritising those with highest energy intensity and spend.

Building eligibility

Public Building Retrofit fund eligible organisations include:   

  • Emergency services  
  • Local authorities, including town and parish councils  
  • Schools within the state education system, including maintained schools, academies, multi-academy trusts and free schools  
  • Further education providers  
  • Nursery schools maintained by a local authority  
  • Community and mental health NHS trusts and foundation trusts (i.e. all non-acute trusts).  

Organisations within GMCA area that are ineligible to apply and are currently eligible under the national Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme are:  

  • Central Government departments and their arm's length bodies   
  • Acute and cancer NHS trusts and foundation trusts  
  • Higher education institutions  

For further information on building specifics please review the Public Building Retrofit fund guidance and application form in the key downloads section below. 

Key features to review in the Public Building Retrofit guidance

Existing heating system requirements:  

  • The end-of-life boiler (beyond 10 years of age) which applies for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, will not be an eligibility requirement for the Public Building Retrofit fund.  
  • This will enable projects with a pressing strategic need with the ability to apply, even if they don’t have an end-of-life boiler.  

Minimum recipient contribution:  

  • Applicants are not required to commit a minimum match contribution.  
  • However, applications with a lower grant carbon cost will be prioritised for funding through a targeted allocation.  

Proposed heating system requirements:   

  • The Public Building Retrofit fund will accept projects that focus only on energy efficiency measures, such as insulation  

Whole building approach:  

  • Applicants must consider the inclusion of building fabric improvements and energy efficiency measures as appropriate, where they reduce the heat or electrical demand of the building being heated by a proposed low-carbon heating system. 

This list is not exhaustive for further insight and detail, please review the Public Building Retrofit fund Guidance and Application Form in the Key Downloads section below. 

Timelines 

  • Public Building Retrofit fund Window 1 now live with registrations open. 
  • Registration period ends 5 September at 5pm 
  • Gateway 1 applications open on September 15 and ends on the October 10 at 5pm 
  • Assessment period ends by approximately November 28
  • Gateway 2 invitations sent by December 12
  • Gateway 2 application period opens on December 15 closing May 29

Support

Please refer to the Public Building Retrofit fund guidance to help prepare a Public Building Retrofit fund application.  

However, should you have any questions please contact the Public Building Retrofit fund team via PBRf@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk

Key downloads

Currently, these documents are not fully accessible, however, we are working on making accessible versions available as soon as possible.

Application form (XLS, 3.12MB)

Guidance (PDF, 2.29MB)

Terms and conditions (PDF, 462KB)

Privacy notice (PDF, 245KB)

FAQs

Currently, this document is not fully accessible, however, we are working on making an accessible version available as soon as possible.

FAQs (PDF, 122KB)