ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) closed to new applications in March 2026. The main route to insulation and energy-efficiency funding is now the Warm Homes: Local Grant, delivered through participating local councils. The quickest way to see if you can still get help is to check your postcode.
If you searched for ECO4 or GBIS and landed here, this page explains what changed, what it means for work that was already approved, and what to do next.
What happened to ECO4 and GBIS?
Both schemes closed to new applications in March 2026. They were funded by energy suppliers, and for several years they were the main way households got support with insulation and heating upgrades. Installations that were approved before the closure are still being completed, but no new applications are being taken under either scheme.
Can I still apply for ECO4?
No. There is no route to a new ECO4 or GBIS application. If a website or a cold caller offers to apply for ECO4 on your behalf today, be careful: the scheme is closed to new applications, so check anything you are told against your council or GOV.UK before sharing your details.
What funding is available instead?
The Warm Homes: Local Grant (WHLG) is now the main route. It works differently from ECO4: funding is delivered through participating local councils rather than energy suppliers, and it supports insulation, heating and other energy-efficiency improvements for eligible households. Whether it is open to you depends first on where you live, then on your household circumstances.
Because eligibility is set locally, nobody can promise you a grant up front. What you can do in under a minute is find out whether your area is participating.
What if my area is not participating?
The honest answer: your options are more limited for now. WHLG only runs in participating council areas. Some councils fund retrofit work outside the national schemes, and new local programmes open from time to time, so it is worth checking your council’s website and checking your postcode again later in the year.
I am a landlord, housing association or council. What does this mean for me?
For social landlords, funding is no longer the only driver: Awaab’s Law Phase 2 makes excess cold a statutory duty from 30 November 2026, whether or not grant funding is in place. For councils running WHLG, the common bottleneck is not money but finding eligible residents: our guide to using WHLG funding for resident finding covers what the DESNZ guidance allows. And if you are weighing up delivery partners, our WHLG delivery partner page sets out how we work.
Frequently asked questions
Is ECO4 still available?
No. ECO4 closed to new applications in March 2026, and the same applies to the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). Installations that were already approved before the closure are still being completed.
What has replaced ECO4 and GBIS?
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is now the main route to home insulation and energy-efficiency funding. It is delivered through participating local councils rather than energy suppliers, so availability depends on where you live.
Who is eligible for the Warm Homes: Local Grant?
Eligibility depends on two things: whether your council is taking part, and your household circumstances. The quickest first step is to check your postcode, then your council or its delivery partner can confirm whether your household may qualify. No installer or website can guarantee you funding.
My ECO4 installation was approved but has not been finished. What should I do?
Approved installations are still being completed. Contact the installer who surveyed your home, or the energy supplier that accepted your application, and ask for an updated completion date.
Pyramid Eco has been installing insulation, ventilation and low-carbon heating across London and the South East since 2011. TrustMark registered, PAS 2030 certified working to PAS 2035.
