An exciting new partnership has been announced for Cumbrian homes. Next Energy has been awarded a £5.1 million contract to deliver the Warm Homes Local Grant for Westmorland & Furness Council, delivering under Lot 2 in the Cumberland Council area. This three-year programme runs through to March 2028 and sits within a wider £11.8 million funding package secured by the Cumbrian councils through the UK Government’s Warm Homes Local Grant scheme.
Through this scheme, Westmorland & Furness Council and Cumberland Council are working together to improve the energy efficiency of homes for local residents, cutting energy bills and reducing fuel poverty for households that are struggling most with the cost of heating.
What the Contract will Deliver in Cumberland
The Warm Homes Local Grant scheme is a national, government-funded programme that supports local authorities in installing energy performance improvements and low-carbon heating in low-income, privately owned homes with poor Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings. The scheme targets properties with an EPC rating between D and G, households with a gross income of under £36,000 a year, or residents in receipt of certain means-tested benefits.
Under this new contract, Next Energy will lead the delivery of Warm Homes Local Grant-funded home improvements across the Cumberland Council area. The three-year programme is expected to benefit up to 800 homes across Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness, with works tailored to each property following a technical home survey. Those surveys look at how much heat is being lost, how the home is currently heated and which upgrades will have the biggest impact on comfort, bills and carbon emissions.
The Warm Homes scheme uses a “fabric first” approach, prioritising improvements to the building “fabric”, such as insulation and ventilation, before installing more complex technologies, such as heating systems. This approach helps ensure long-term performance, supports good indoor air quality and lays strong foundations for future low-carbon heating.
Supporting Housing Authorities to Meet Strategic Goals
For housing authorities, the Warm Homes Local Grant offers a practical route to accelerate local fuel poverty strategies, climate action plans, and improve the health and wellbeing of local residents. The scheme is explicitly designed to cut fuel bills, tackle cold, inefficient homes, and reduce carbon emissions in support of the UK’s net-zero 2050 target. By targeting low-income households in the least efficient homes, the programme supports residents who are often hardest hit by rising energy costs and most at risk of living in unhealthy conditions.
Next Energy’s role is to translate those strategic goals into safe, high-quality retrofit projects on the ground in Cumberland. Delivery is aligned with PAS 2035, the national standard that sets out how whole-house retrofit should be assessed, designed, installed and overseen to protect residents and ensure long-term performance. That framework helps housing authorities maintain quality, manage risk and demonstrate that public funding is being invested in robust, well-governed home upgrades.
Customer-Centred Delivery and Local Impact
The partnership between Westmorland & Furness Council, Cumberland Council and Next Energy places a strong emphasis on the resident journey. From first contact through to installation and handover, households receive clear information about what will happen, what to expect during installation, and how to get the best from any new equipment. Retrofit advice is provided at key points so residents understand their options, can give informed consent and feel confident using their upgraded home.
Local impact goes beyond individual properties. Warmer, more efficient homes can reduce pressure on health and social care services, support local supply chains and contribute to fairer, more resilient communities. In Cumberland, the programme will sit alongside wider efforts to make the area a fairer and warmer place to live, showing how coordinated local leadership and specialist delivery partners can turn national policy into real change for households. Next Energy is proud to be working with Westmorland & Furness Council on this three-year contract and looks forward to supporting housing authorities as they deliver safer, warmer homes across the region.
Get in Touch
Contact Next Energy today to explore how we can support your council’s Warm Homes Local Grant delivery or discuss retrofit partnership opportunities in your area. You can get in touch via [email protected] or call 0800 021 3145 to start the conversation.
