The Warm Homes Plan - Passivhaus Trust response

The UK Government published its Warm Homes Plan on 21 January 2026. The Passivhaus Trust welcomes the Government’s ambition to improve the UK’s housing stock through the Warm Homes Plan and its commitment to reducing emissions and fuel poverty. These goals are essential in a climate emergency.

However, heating systems alone do not deliver warm, healthy or affordable homes. Without high levels of insulation, good airtightness, appropriate ventilation, and effective shading, low-carbon heating must work harder, increasing energy use, running costs, and pressure on the electricity grid. This risks leaving households with higher bills, ongoing discomfort, and limited improvements to health and wellbeing.

Electrifying heat without reducing energy demand is a missed opportunity. With electricity currently around four times the cost of gas, households in poorly performing homes may still be unable to afford adequate warmth. At a system level, installing electric heating into inefficient buildings increases peak demand on the national grid, creating avoidable infrastructure pressures and costs.

A fabric-first, whole-house approach offers a proven route to a resilient housing stock that protects occupants from rising energy costs, supports good health, reduces peak electricity demand, and delivers long-term value as the UK transitions to a zero-carbon built environment.

"Whilst the Warm Home Plan is an important step towards decarbonising our homes, heating alone does not deliver warm, comfortable homes that are affordable to run. Health, comfort, and affordability depend on multiple elements working together: insulation to reduce heat loss, ventilation to ensure good indoor air quality, solar control to prevent overheating, and efficient heating and services. The Passivhaus standard demonstrates how integrating these measures can deliver homes that are consistently comfortable, healthy to live in and significantly cheaper to run, while dramatically reducing energy demand.

It’s well documented that heat pump technology performs better in a building which has adequate building fabric. A whole-house approach is essential, and whilst the Warm Homes Plan makes reference to this, it is not explicit in how loans/finance would support this approach, and any market ambiguity does not adequately protect the consumer, as we have seen before. There needs to be more on quality accountability and execution of the works. We await further detail."

Ann-Marie Fallon, Co-Director, Passivhaus Trust