Greater Manchester Combined Authority Energy Grants: Full List

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) administers or facilitates access to over a dozen energy efficiency grants and schemes for the region’s 1.1 million households. Between national government programmes and locally funded initiatives, eligible homeowners and tenants across all ten GM boroughs can access free or heavily subsidised insulation, heating upgrades, solar panels, and more. Here is the full list of what is available in 2025.

The Warm Homes Programme (Local Authority Delivery)

GMCA’s flagship home energy programme provides free energy efficiency measures to eligible households across all ten boroughs – Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. Funded through a combination of government grants and local authority budgets, the programme typically covers cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, first-time central heating, and in some cases, solar panels.

To qualify, you generally need to be on a household income below £36,000 per year or be receiving certain benefits including Universal Credit, pension top-up benefits, or Child Tax Credit. Properties must have an EPC rating of D, E, F, or G. The programme is delivered through a network of qualified contractors, and there is no cost to the homeowner for qualifying measures.

Applications go through your local council or directly through GMCA’s referral system. Wait times vary by borough – Salford and Bolton have typically processed applications faster than Manchester and Stockport in recent months, with turnaround times of 4-8 weeks from application to survey.

government energy efficiency schemes in Greater Manchester

The government energy efficiency scheme is a national scheme funded by energy suppliers, but its delivery varies by area. In Greater Manchester, government energy efficiency schemes funding is channelled through qualified installers who work with local councils to identify eligible properties. The scheme covers a wide range of measures including wall insulation (cavity, solid wall internal, and external), loft and room-in-roof insulation, floor insulation, heating system upgrades, and solar PV panels.

government energy efficiency schemes prioritises a whole-house approach, aiming to improve properties to at least EPC band C. This means you may receive multiple measures in a single package. A terraced house in Oldham rated EPC F might receive cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, and a new boiler all funded through the same government energy efficiency schemes project.

Eligibility depends on income, benefits status, and your property’s current EPC rating. The government energy efficiency scheme flexibility provisions element allows each Greater Manchester council to set additional local criteria, so it is worth checking with your specific borough even if you do not meet the standard national criteria.

government heat pump grant

The national government heat pump grant provides grants of up to £7,500 towards air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps, and £5,000 towards biomass boilers. Greater Manchester homeowners can apply through any qualified installer. The grant is applied at the point of installation, so you never need to pay the full cost upfront.

To qualify, your property must currently use fossil fuel heating (gas, oil, or LPG), have a valid EPC, and have adequate insulation – typically a minimum of loft insulation and cavity wall insulation where applicable. The scheme is available for owner-occupied and privately rented properties, but not social housing. Across GM, demand has been particularly strong in the suburban areas of Trafford, Stockport, and Bury where properties tend to have more outdoor space for heat pump installations.

government insulation scheme (government insulation scheme)

Running alongside government energy efficiency schemes, the government insulation scheme specifically targets single insulation measures for homes in the least energy-efficient council tax bands (A-D in England). In Greater Manchester, this programme has been particularly useful for homes that need one specific measure rather than a whole-house retrofit.

Eligible measures include cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, flat roof insulation, room-in-roof insulation, solid wall insulation, and underfloor insulation. There is no need to be on benefits for the general eligibility route – if your home is in council tax bands A-D and has an EPC of D or below, you may qualify regardless of income. This has opened up funding for many working households across Wigan, Rochdale, and Tameside who previously fell through the gaps of other schemes.

Greater Manchester previous government grant scheme (Local Top-Up)

GMCA has periodically offered local top-up grants to supplement national schemes. While funding rounds open and close depending on budget availability, these grants have previously offered between £2,000 and £10,000 per property for measures including external wall insulation, solar panels, battery storage, and air source heat pumps.

These local grants typically target properties in the worst-performing energy bands and areas of higher deprivation. Postcode areas including M8, M9, M40, OL1-OL16, BL1-BL7, and WN1-WN8 have historically seen the highest allocation rates. Check the GMCA website or contact your local council’s housing team for current availability.

social housing energy programme (social housing energy programme)

While not directly available to private homeowners, the social housing energy programme is worth mentioning because several Greater Manchester housing associations and council housing providers have secured significant funding. If you are a social housing tenant in GM, your landlord may be planning energy upgrades funded through this scheme. Organisations including Wigan Council, Bolton at Home, Salix Homes (Salford), and Southway Housing Trust (Manchester) have all received social housing energy programme allocations.

Measures funded through social housing energy programme include external wall insulation, triple glazing, heat pumps, and solar panels. If you are a social housing tenant and your home is poorly insulated or has old heating, contact your housing provider to ask about planned improvements.

0% VAT on Energy-Saving Materials

This is not technically a grant, but it saves every GM homeowner 20% on qualifying energy improvements. Until at least March 2027, there is zero VAT on the supply and installation of solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, heating controls, and other energy-saving materials for residential properties. This applies whether or not you qualify for any other grant or scheme.

For a typical solar panel installation costing £6,000, the 0% VAT rate saves you £1,200 compared to the standard 20% rate. For insulation work costing £2,000, you save an estimated £400. Make sure your installer is applying the correct VAT rate – if they are charging 20% on qualifying energy measures for a residential property, challenge it.

winter energy discount scheme Scheme

The winter energy discount scheme provides a one-off £150 discount on winter electricity bills for eligible households. In Greater Manchester, qualifying is automatic for most pension-age residents on pension top-up benefits, while working-age households on certain benefits may also qualify. The discount is applied directly to your electricity account between October and March.

While £150 may seem modest, it is worth combining with other support. A Greater Manchester pensioner could potentially receive the winter energy discount scheme (£150), winter fuel support payment (£100-300), cold weather support payments (variable), plus free insulation through government energy efficiency schemes – totalling well over £1,000 in annual support.

How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Process

The number of schemes can feel overwhelming, but the process is simpler than it appears. Start by getting an up-to-date EPC for your property if you do not have one less than 10 years old. An EPC costs around £60-100 and provides the baseline energy rating that most schemes require.

• Contact your borough council’s housing or energy team and ask about available grants
• Use the government’s Simple Energy Advice service for a personalised recommendation
• Get quotes from at least two registered and qualified installers
• Apply for the government heat pump grant through your chosen installer if considering a heat pump
• Ask your installer about government energy efficiency schemes eligibility as many can check on the spot

Many GM residents qualify for more than one scheme simultaneously. The most common combination is government energy efficiency schemes-funded insulation alongside a government grant scheme-funded heat pump, which together can deliver a comprehensive home energy upgrade with minimal out-of-pocket cost.

Can I get multiple grants for the same property?

Yes, in many cases. You cannot double-fund the same measure (for example, claiming both government energy efficiency schemes and government insulation scheme for loft insulation), but you can use different schemes for different measures. A typical combination might be government energy efficiency schemes for insulation and government grant scheme for a heat pump. Your installer or local council energy team can advise on the best combination for your situation.

I earn too much for means-tested grants. Are there any options for me?

Absolutely. The government heat pump grant has no income requirements – any homeowner with fossil fuel heating can apply. The government insulation scheme has a general eligibility route based on property type and EPC rating rather than income. And the 0% VAT on energy-saving materials applies to everyone regardless of earnings. Higher-income households in GM still have access to significant financial support.

How long do grant applications typically take to process?

Timelines vary significantly. The government heat pump grant voucher is usually issued within a few days of your installer applying. government energy efficiency schemes applications typically take 4-12 weeks depending on your borough and the current volume of applications. GMCA’s own programmes can take 8-16 weeks from initial application to installation. Start the process as early as possible, particularly if you want work completed before winter.