Fuel poverty to be tackled with £150m fund to modernise homes

A £150 million fund has been announced to tackle fuel poverty by investing to make homes more energy-efficient.

Stormont Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced the warm healthy homes: A Northern Ireland fuel poverty strategy 2026-2036 on Thursday.

He said fuel poverty affects almost one in four households and is linked to poor health and financial stress.

“This strategy sets out a clear pathway to change that,” he said.

“As part of the strategy, I will introduce a new warm healthy homes fund next year, for which I intend to allocate £150 million to deliver of energy-efficiency investment in its first five years.

“This fund will transform low-income households, modernising energy-inefficient homes.

“Through this fund, along with energy wellbeing advice from trusted partners in the community, I want to ensure those worst affected have the information and means to upgrade their homes for the better.

“I also want to improve housing standards and my department has already begun consulting on a revised decent homes standard for social housing.”

Mr Lyons launched the strategy at the Belfast home of Trevor Rainey, who had a low carbon retrofit upgrade fitted to his home by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive last summer.

He said his bills are a “lot lower, the house is warmer and the hot water is great in the mornings”, adding: “I’d recommend it to anyone.”

The strategy has also been welcomed by a number of stakeholders.

Christine Irvine, senior policy manager at Marie Curie NI, said its research shows one in three people in the last year of life are estimated to be in fuel poverty in Northern Ireland and rates of pensioner fuel poverty are higher than in any other part of the UK.

She said: “Therefore, we’re very pleased to see that the warm healthy homes strategy specifically references people at end of life and we look forward to seeing a follow-up action plan which outlines the practical steps that will be taken to better identify those at risk, and to ensure that support is offered to people who need it.”

Raymond Gormley, head of energy policy at the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, said the strategy “represents a real opportunity to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions to help alleviate fuel poverty”.

It was also welcomed by Bryson Pathways and National Energy Action NI.

John French, chief executive of the Utility Regulator, said the strategy “represents a significant opportunity to place consumers at the centre of our energy future and ensure that energy bills remain affordable for all”.

John McMullan, vice chairman of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), said delivering energy‑efficiency measures can greatly reduce households’ energy costs.

He said: “Vitally, sustained investment in improving the quality, comfort and performance in housing goes some way to improving the health and wellbeing of households.

“Therefore, we warmly welcome the warm healthy homes strategy and the minister’s long‑term commitment to tackling fuel poverty. For our part, the NIHE looks forward to being a key delivery partner for the strategy.”