First council homes get a 'glow up' under £21 million energy efficiency programme

Rugby Borough Council launched its ambitious Give Your Home a Glow Up programme in the autumn, offering council tenants the opportunity to have energy efficiency measures fitted to homes free of charge.

Partnering with energy company E.ON for the three-year programme, the council has started contacting eligible households on a ward-by-ward basis.

And the first homes have now been given a glow up under the programme, with solar panels fitted at more than 50 homes in Newbold and Old Brownsover since E.ON started work in February.

Cllr Claire Edwards, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said: "We're delighted the first tenants have benefited from the free energy efficiency measures on offer through our Give Your Home a Glow Up programme, measures which can help make our tenants' homes cheaper to heat and stay warmer for longer.

"Working in partnership with E.ON, we aim to make the installation process as smooth as possible for tenants.

"Depending on the measures fitted, installation can take just a few days and we work with tenants to minimise disruption.

"We're working to an ambitious target of improving the energy efficiency of more than 1,000 council homes over the next three years, so, if we contact you offering a free home assessment for a 'glow up', make sure you get in touch."

The council secured a £10.7 million grant from 'wave three' of the Government's Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund to support the programme, with the council match-funding the grant from its Housing Revenue Account - a ring-fenced budget which can only be spent on the management and maintenance of council homes.

The programme forms part of the council's work to ensure all council homes have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by the Government's deadline of 2030.

All eligible households offered a free home assessment during the three-year programme could benefit from a range of energy efficiency measures - depending on the property - including solar panels, air source heat pumps, wall insulation and loft insulation.

Cllr Noreen New, Rugby Borough Council's Liberal Democrat group spokesperson for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said the council's partnership with E.ON had a proven track record after it was highly commended in the 'regional large-scale project' category at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards (WMEEA) 2025.

The accolade from WMEEA followed the council and E.ON fitting energy efficiency measures at 112 council homes in Rokeby and Long Lawford during the 'second wave' of the Government's then called Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Cllr New said: "The experience of fitting energy efficiency measures at homes in Rokeby and Long Lawford has allowed us to hit the ground running with our Give Your Home a Glow Up programme.

"We want this programme to make a real difference, helping council tenants keep homes warmer for longer with the potential to save money on energy bills.

"So, I'd encourage every household invited to have a free home assessment to take up the offer."

For more information on the Give Your Home a Glow Up programme, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/warm-homes