Prime minister discusses Warm Homes Plan with PlaceShapers
22 January 2026
A warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee for every family in Britain.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met residents and housing leaders in Hemel Hempstead to hear first-hand how housing associations are helping to create warmer, greener homes and lower energy bills
PlaceShapers worked with the government and its member organisation Hightown Housing Association to bring people together as part of the launch of the government’s Warm Homes Plan.
In his speech the Prime Minister explained how the government are committed to addressing the cost-of-living crisis for families across the country. It was clear from the discussion that he sees improving the energy efficiency of social housing and the role of PlaceShapers’ members as critical in achieving this goal.
Keir Starmer said: “A warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee for every family in Britain. The Warm Homes Plan marks a turning point. It will help to slash energy costs and lift up to a million people out of fuel poverty This is a government bearing down on the cost-of-living crisis. By driving bills down for good and upgrading millions of homes, we’re giving people the security and the fair shot they need to get on in life.
He also said: “I grew up in a family that couldn't always make ends meet, so I am acutely aware of the difficulties people across Britain are facing. That's why we've taken immediate steps to help families through taking £150 off household energy bills. And it's why we are going further – with a £15 billion package that will help the people of Hertfordshire drive down people’s bills in the long run.”
Catherine Ryder, Chief Executive of PlaceShapers, said: “We strongly welcome the measures in the Warm Homes Plan. We were delighted to talk to Sir Keir about the shared ambition of the government and housing associations to lower energy bills and make homes greener and warmer for social housing residents.
“We were proud to tell Sir Keir what housing associations are already doing - and how they are ready to make the most of the opportunities that the certainty of funding in the Warm Homes Plan brings."
Andrew Royall, Executive Director of Development at Hightown, said: “We were proud to have the opportunity to share with the Prime Minister the decisive steps Hightown is taking to meet the dual challenge of delivering more sustainable homes while ensuring our customers can enjoy warm, comfortable and affordable places to live.
“Sustainability has long been embedded in our development strategy. Since 2024, we have prioritised gas‑free developments and over the past year we have strengthened this commitment by approving only schemes that incorporate low‑carbon heating and hot water systems.
“We are also actively assessing opportunities to retrofit some of our existing homes with solar PV and we welcome the potential offered by the Warm Homes Plan to broaden this work even further. Looking ahead, we are committed to building to the Future Homes Standard and await further detail on the new requirements with keen interest.”
Warm Homes Plan
The government £15 billion ’Warm Homes Plan’ will help millions of families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation that can cut energy bills
The Warm Homes Plan is for all types of households, with targeted interventions for those on low incomes; upgrades for social housing; new protections for renters; and a universal offer for all households to upgrade homes if and when they want to.
The Plan will help lift up to one million families out of fuel poverty and tackle long term energy costs, following government’s intervention to take an average of £150 of costs off energy bills for all families this April.