Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF)

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) seeks to raise the energy performance of social homes below EPC band C up to that level, as part of the journey for social housing stock towards Net Zero 2050. WH:SHF Wave 3 will increase the provision of low carbon heating incentives with these targets in mind.

The scheme will begin delivery in 2025 following funding allocations and a mobilisation period. The total amount of funding available to deliver the scheme is subject to the spending review and will be confirmed in due course.  

The GMCA will be receiving an allocation of funding as part of the Government’s commitment to the pilot announced in its trailblazer devolution deal. As a result, the GMCA and its constituent local authorities, and other stakeholders such as Housing Associations, will therefore not be permitted to apply for the national scheme.

Local Authorities

The GMCA and its constituent local authorities will not be permitted to apply to schemes for which the GMCA will be receiving funding through the trailblazer devolution deal, including the WH:SHF.

Housing Associations

In most cases, housing associations whose projects include stock in Greater Manchester and elsewhere in the country are required to split the project and seek funding for each project from the appropriate funding stream (i.e., GMCA, or WH:SHF). Funding for stock within Greater Manchester should be sought from the GMCA, whereas funding for stock outside Greater Manchester should be sought from the national WH:SHF scheme.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recognises that, in a small number of circumstances, it may be more appropriate for a housing association to obtain funding from a single source i.e., WH:SHF or GMCA, and a pragmatic approach will be taken to reviewing funding requests on a case-by-case basis.

What is the devolved net zero funding pilot?

The GMCA will receive an allocation of funding to deliver retrofitting of social housing differently in Greater Manchester. Local authorities, and other stakeholders such as Housing Associations, will work with the GMCA and will not be eligible to apply to the national scheme.

As a Local Authority / Housing Association that has received previous funding for domestic retrofit from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, why are we no longer able to bid directly to scheme?

Devolution is a key Government priority, and the GMCA will receive a proportion of funding from the national retrofit scheme for their areas rather than applying to central government. Government is piloting the approach of local devolution within Greater Manchester to retrofit, which will have greater autonomy to prioritise investment based on its local knowledge and role in co-ordination.

As a Local Authority / Housing Association, how will we be able to access funding for retrofit works to the homes in our area?

As the GMCA will receive an allocation of national scheme funding for retrofitting homes in its area, constituent local authorities and housing associations will not be permitted to access funding via the national scheme for their stock in Greater Manchester.

Instead, constituent local authorities and housing associations will need to seek funding via the GMCA. The GMCA will provide information for stakeholders in Greater Manchester on accessing funding in due course. In the meantime, please contact SHDF@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk for enquiries related to devolved funding.

How much money will be made available to the GMCA?

The GMCA has received a commitment of a proportionate share of the WH:SHF.