ECO4 ends 31 December 2026 — what replaces it in Wigan
ECO4 has been extended once, to 31 December 2026, so suppliers can finish existing targets and fix faulty installs only. There are no new targets, no carry-over and no ECO5. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2026.
In England the replacement for low-income households is the Warm Homes: Local Grant — a £500m scheme delivered by councils and their appointed installers from April 2025 to March 2028. It funds insulation, heating and solar in full for privately owned and privately rented homes rated EPC D to G.
One of these three routes must apply:
- Household income under £36,000 a year before tax; or
- Someone in the home gets one of: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance; or
- The home is in a postcode the government lists as among the most deprived (IMD deciles 1–2).
On top of one of those routes, the home must be rated EPC D to G and you must be an owner-occupier or a private tenant (with your landlord's consent — rented homes rated F or G need a registered MEES exemption). Social housing is not eligible.
Not every council joined, delivery is postcode-by-postcode, and councils must contact eligible households within 10 working days of a referral.
Check the Warm Homes route for Wigan →You can also apply directly through the government's checker on GOV.UK.
Energy Grants & Fuel Poverty in Wigan
Wigan's 'Deal' — the council's innovative approach to public services based on reciprocal relationships between residents and the council — extends naturally to energy efficiency. Rather than top-down delivery of ECO4 measures, Wigan's model trains community volunteers as energy champions who identify eligible neighbours, explain the process in plain language, and support applications. This peer-to-peer approach has proved particularly effective in former mining communities like Leigh, Hindley, and Ince, where trust in authority is historically low but community bonds are strong.
The GMCA LA Flex framework provides the procurement and quality infrastructure, while Wigan's community champions provide the local outreach that makes the difference between a programme that exists on paper and one that actually reaches the households that need it most.
Wigan's Deal model uses community energy champions — trained volunteer residents — to deliver ECO4 outreach, achieving higher uptake than traditional council-led approaches.
How ECO4 Is Delivered in Wigan
Wigan's former coal mining villages present housing challenges similar to Doncaster and Rotherham: National Coal Board housing built between the 1920s and 1960s, some with non-standard construction. The borough's distinctive feature is the number of properties in Leigh and Atherton that were built using Wimpey No-Fines concrete — a construction method that creates porous walls requiring specialist external insulation. Wigan's Deal-based approach means residents are actively involved in choosing between insulation options: EWI that changes the building's appearance or internal wall insulation that preserves the external character but reduces room sizes. This resident-led decision-making increases satisfaction and reduces the complaints that can slow delivery in other boroughs.
Available Grants in Wigan
Residents in the Wigan Council area can access several government-funded energy efficiency schemes:
ECO4 Scheme
The ECO4 provides 100% free energy improvements to qualifying households. In Wigan, 3,120 measures installed to date. Most common: Cavity wall insulation (33%).
Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
The GBIS closed to new applications on 31 March 2026 — if you don't claim benefits, check LA Flex and the Warm Homes: Local Grant instead. Until it closed, GBIS provided free or subsidised insulation to properties in council tax bands A-D. No means test required.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
£7,500 towards an air source heat pump or £5,000 towards ground source. Available to all homeowners with a valid EPC.
Warm Home Discount
£150 discount on your electricity bill each winter.
EPC Ratings in Wigan
Analysis of 118,600 EPC certificates in Wigan:
Rating Distribution
52% of properties rated D-G — above the national average. Fuel poverty: 13.4% (18,900 households), above the national average of 13.1%.
Housing Stock
141,200 households. Common construction: 1920s-30s Lancashire semis and terraces, average build year 1945.
| Type | Share |
|---|---|
| Semi-detached | 34% |
| Terraced | 30% |
| Detached | 16% |
| Flat | 12% |
| Bungalow | 8% |
Most Common ECO4 Measures
3,120 installations to date:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Boiler replacement
- External wall insulation
Average annual saving: £620
LA Flex Eligibility — Wigan
Wigan Council — LA Flex (SOI v4.0, June 2025)
Income threshold: £31,000
Delivery partner: GMCA / Wigan Council
GMCA LA Flex programme. Targets former mining communities in Leigh, Hindley, and Ince. Council's Deal approach uses community-led delivery.
Local Installers
29 TrustMark-registered and 9 MCS-certified installers serving Wigan. Key areas: Leigh, Hindley, Ince, Atherton, Pemberton
Wigan Energy Strategy
Wigan's Deal approach applies community-led principles to climate action. £5.4m secured through SHDF. Former mining villages prioritised.
How to Apply
- Check eligibility — use our checker
- Get matched with TrustMark installers in Wigan
- Free survey — assessor recommends measures
- Installation — at no cost, usually 4-8 weeks
Contact Wigan Council: https://www.wigan.gov.uk/energy-efficiency or 01942 244991
FAQs — Wigan
How many homes in Wigan qualify for ECO4?
Approximately 52% of assessed properties in Wigan have EPC D or below. Combined with benefits and LA Flex, an estimated 18,900 households could access free improvements.
What is the LA Flex income threshold in Wigan?
Wigan Council's LA Flex income threshold is £31,000. GMCA LA Flex programme. Targets former mining communities in Leigh, Hindley, and Ince. Council's Deal approach uses community-led delivery.
How many installers serve Wigan?
29 TrustMark-registered and 9 MCS-certified installers serve the Wigan area.
What is the fuel poverty rate in Wigan?
Wigan's fuel poverty rate is 13.4% (18,900 households), above the national average of 13.1%.
How much can I save with ECO4 in Wigan?
Average annual saving: £620. Most common measure: Cavity wall insulation (33%).
📋 Sources & Data
- EPC: Open EPC Register — 118,600 certificates
- Fuel poverty: DESNZ 2025 (2023 data)
- ECO4: Ofgem
- Installers: TrustMark
- LA Flex: Wigan Council SOI v4.0 (June 2025)
- Last verified: 4 March 2026