The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram, is launching a new Warm Homes Local Grant worth £31.8 million to help households cut energy bills and improve home energy efficiency.

Applications are now open for the programme, which is focused on lowering carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty.

Homeowners and private landlords can access grants of up to £15,000 for measures such as solar panels, heat pumps, and wall and loft insulation.

Around 2,000 properties are expected to receive upgrades to move towards EPC Band C, with works delivered by Birkenhead-based LMF Energy and Fairway Energy in Kirkby.

This initiative forms part of the Combined Authority’s wider plan to reach net zero carbon by 2035 – more than a decade earlier than the national target.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: "Everyone deserves the dignity of a warm, safe home. But for too many people across our region, that simply isn't the reality. With increasing uncertainty around energy security, it's vital that we have a strong safety net in place to support families when they fall on hard times.

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"This funding we've secured will allow us to help thousands of disadvantaged families to stay warm, cut their bills, and improve their quality of life.

"By upgrading homes with better insulation and low-carbon technologies, we're not only tackling fuel poverty head on – we're also reducing our carbon footprint too. Domestic properties account for around a third of our region’s CO2 emissions, making this one of the most impactful steps we can take for our future.

"In 2026, no one should have to choose between heating and eating. That's why I'm determined to take action and ensure we support those who need it most."

To date, the Combined Authority has invested £105m in retrofitting energy-efficiency measures in 10,000 homes and has secured a further £80m to improve another 10,000 properties alongside local authorities and housing associations.

The programme has enabled some of the region’s most disadvantaged households to save hundreds of pounds a month on their energy bills.

In February, a £40m project began to cut emissions by more than half across 35 public buildings, with upgrades planned for historic buildings, town halls, leisure centres and libraries.

The £31.8m for local grants has been secured from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero as part of the government’s £15bn Warm Homes plan.

The Combined Authority will run and assess applications for Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Wirral, while residents in Liverpool and Sefton should apply via their respective councils.

Eligibility covers households earning under £36,000 a year, those receiving means-tested benefits, or homes in qualifying postcodes.

Local grants can fund replacing gas boilers with low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps and high-retention storage heaters, alongside insulation and solar panels.

Liverpool City Council has appointed Next Energy to deliver the scheme locally, with Ecogee carrying out works in Sefton.