Government launches £1bn scheme to insulate middle-income homes

The government will spend an extra £1bn to insulate the least energy-efficient homes in the UK, the business secretary has announced.

Grant Shapps said the new Eco+ scheme was aimed at middle earners who do not benefit from any other government support to upgrade homes.

Labour criticised it as a “reheated announcement with no new resources” and as “far too little too late”.

Hundreds of thousands of households could receive loft and cavity wall insulation under the scheme, which will run for three years from spring.

A fifth of the funding will be targeted at the most vulnerable households.

Mr Shapps told Sky News: “This money is for people who have not been able to benefit from the previous schemes and will help hundreds of thousands of homes.”

A new £18m public information campaign will also offer advice on how to reduce energy use in the home.

Guidance to be published on the help for households website said reducing boiler flow temperatures from 75C to 60C and…