Insight 2026-05-11
Insight
Leading the charge against fuel poverty
Warmth is a right, not a privilege. Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO, Equans UK & Ireland spoke to Local Authority Building & Maintenance (LABM) Magazine to discuss how Equans is leading the charge against fuel poverty.
Sustainability is not an afterthought – it is a key component of delivering meaningful change in the UK’s housing landscape. The government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan (2026–2030) is more than policy; it is a national call to action. Upgrading five million homes is not however just about achieving environmental targets, it is about protecting households from the dual threats of rising energy bills and cold, unhealthy living conditions.
Housing in the UK is responsible for around 20% of carbon emissions, however for millions, the bigger issue is affordability and comfort. The Warm Homes Plan tackles both of these issues by accelerating the adoption of heat pumps, enhanced insulation, and solar panels, which in turn attacks spiralling bills and persistent fuel poverty.
Warm homes are now recognised as national infrastructure – central to energy security, public health, and economic resilience. Initiatives such as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly SHDF) have already demonstrated that high-quality retrofit can transform lives: replacing cold, damp homes with spaces that are healthier, warmer, and cheaper to run.
Why does retrofit matter in tackling fuel poverty?
The evidence is clear – whole house retrofit delivers better outcomes than single measures. Scaling up sustainable regeneration into area-based programmes, built on deprivation and health data, deliver deeper, wider social returns. To achieve this sustained project pipelines are essential; they nurture the capable local supply chains and workforce we need. Early movers – local authorities who invested in data and delivery partnerships – are now primed to scale, as the Warm Homes Plan offers greater confidence and continuity.
Why are place-based approaches important?
Fuel poverty is intensely local. Variations in housing stock, infrastructure, and deprivation mean that the challenge – and the solutions – are different neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Combined Authorities increasingly favour community-scale programmes that unite housing, health, skills, and economic priorities to improve living standards across the board.
Our partnership with Dudley Council on the UK’s first Net Zero Neighbourhood – Brockmoor – was selected not just for its sustainability goals, but for its high levels of fuel poverty and mixed tenure. The strategy is to create a replicable model where upgraded homes work hand in hand with wider support on energy, transport, and community regeneration. This moves delivery away from transactional contracting and towards true partnership-based leadership.
How can housing providers fund decarbonisation and fuel poverty programmes?
Unlocking these programmes requires funding and the greater use of blended finance: grants, subsidised loans, private investment, and revenue-backed models such as heat networks and energy services. By focusing scarce public money on the most vulnerable and providing attractive propositions for landlords and homeowners, we unlock the scale and pace required for tackling fuel poverty.
Building healthier and more resilient communities
The market is shifting: government support is flowing to all forms of housing, not just the social sector. Equans is leading Warms Homes delivery, and our deep experience in sustainable regeneration keeps us at the forefront Our work is increasingly centred on creating place-based solutions – integrating homes, public buildings, heat networks, and community infrastructure. These are not just low-carbon neighbourhoods, but resilient, healthy, and inclusive places where people can thrive.
This article originally featured in LABM Magazine
