Warmer Homes Scotland is being relaunched with more funding and more help for households to install a climate-friendly heating system. Since its launch in 2015, the scheme has helped more than 35,000 older or lower income households across Scotland to live in warmer, healthier homes which are more affordable to heat.

The expanded second phase goes live today at the start of Challenge Poverty Week.

Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said: “We are now ramping up our support and making a long-term investment in helping those in fuel poverty through the energy transition – with up to £728m available over the next 7 years. This means we can offer more support per household, allowing us to deliver whole-house retrofit and install more measures in individual properties. There will also be a focus on climate-friendly heating where this is financially and technically possible.

“This is an important element of our overall package of support, sitting alongside our grants and loans for heating and energy efficiency, which remain the most generous in the UK.

“We will continue to do all we can within the scope of our powers and budget to tackle poverty and support those in greatest need. We are committed to a heat transition that takes people with us and that shows clearly why a rapid shift away from fossil fuels is necessary. That transition can liberate people from the insecurity of fossil fuel prices, and lead to warm and healthy homes while tackling fuel poverty and climate breakdown.

“Only 10 days ago the UK Government signalled a significant retreat from steps they could have taken to support changes in home heating and tackle the climate crisis. In stark contrast, we are committed to introducing legislation in this parliamentary term and to supporting people through this transition.”

Warmer Homes Scotland forms part of the £1.8 billion committed during the current five-year Parliamentary term to support the heat transition.