Domestic and non-domestic energy efficiency

Greater Manchester: Report on Decarbonising Our Existing Buildings

Reducing the amount of energy used in Greater Manchester’s existing buildings will be key to achieving our aim of being a carbon-neutral city-region by 2038.

This report builds on the priorities and actions on buildings in the Five-Year Environment Plan. It sets out where Greater Manchester is now and where it needs to get to in terms of the energy demand of its existing domestic, commercial and public buildings. Based on that, it provides a set of recommendations for taking action that are being taken forward by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and its partners.

Greater Manchester: Report on Decarbonising Our Existing Buildings (PDF)

Greater Manchester Spatial Energy Plan: Evidence Base Study

The Spatial Energy Plan for Greater Manchester was commissioned as part of the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) Smart Systems and Heat Programme, and undertaken through collaboration between the GMCA and the Energy Systems Catapult. It underpins the report on decarbonising our existing buildings.

The study brings together the significant data and existing evidence relating to the local energy system. This will provide a platform for future energy planning in the region and the development of suitable policies within the emerging spatial planning framework for Greater Manchester.

Download the GMCA Spatial Energy Plan Executive Summary (PDF)

Domestic Buildings – support for residents

Support is available across Greater Manchester to help people keep warm and reduce their energy bills without costing them any money. To see if you are eligible, contact the service in your area. They will also be able to advise of other support available across Greater Manchester, including funding for insulation or heating system improvements.

Energy Company Obligation, Flexible Eligibility, Statement of Intent

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funds are provided by energy suppliers to assist fuel-poor, low-income and vulnerable residents.

In September 2022, Ofgem published the Final ECO4 Guidance: Local Authority Administration. This maintains the ECO-flexibility eligibility mechanism, through which Local Authorities can set eligibility criteria in a Statement of Intent (SOI) to determine which fuel-poor, low income and vulnerable residents are eligible for ECO-flexible eligibility funds.

In Greater Manchester, it has been agreed that there will be one Statement of Intent covering all 10 districts and declarations of eligibility will only be issued for Greater Manchester-wide or Local Authority-led schemes via the affordable warmth service operating in each district.

GMCA is currently in the process of producing an ‘Approved Installer List’ for ECO4 Flexible Eligibility, which we envisage will be ready to assist Greater Manchester residents around March 2023. We are unable to issue any Flexible Eligibility declarations before then. In the meantime, you may wish to review our Statement of Intent which details our ECO4 Flexible Eligibility criteria:

Energy Company Obligation, Flexible Eligibility, Statement of Intent version 4 (PDF) (for declarations issues from April 2022 onwards)

Energy Company Obligation, Flexible Eligibility, Statement of Intent version 3 (PDF) (for declarations issued from 1 June 2019 onwards)

Energy Company Obligation, Flexible Eligibility, Statement of Intent version 2 (PDF) (for declarations issued on or before 31 May 2019 only)