Finance Options for Green Roofs in the UK

Written-by

Janet Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett

Updated on

Jan 13, 2026

Finance Options for Green Roofs in the UK

There are several potential sources of grants and subsidies that may be available to the UK market, both domestic and commercial.

Financing a green roof installation can be expensive, especially for companies looking to install on large, commercial properties. There may be help out there but often the best way forward is to contact a long standing installation company for a chat. 

Availability of grants and incentives for green roofs varies by location, property type, and eligibility criteria, and funding is not guaranteed.

Local Authority Grants: Some local councils offer grants or incentives for green infrastructure projects, which can include green roofs. For example, Cornwall Council has previously run various energy efficiency and sustainability programmes that may support such installations.

Government Funding: The UK government provides funding through schemes such as the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) and the Sustainable Warmth Competition. These grants focus on improving energy efficiency in homes, and while they do not specifically fund green roofs, they may support wider retrofit measures that form part of an overall improvement strategy.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO): This scheme requires energy suppliers to help households reduce heating costs by installing energy-saving measures, though green roofs are not typically a qualifying measure and inclusion is likely to be limited or indirect, making it difficult to access.
(This scheme will be closing to new applicants at the end of March 2026.)

Business Grants: For commercial properties, the UK government offers various funds to help businesses become greener, including the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), which supports energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, though green roofs are generally considered ancillary rather than core eligible measures.

To find specific grants and check eligibility, you can use the UK government’s "Find a Grant" service, which allows you to search for available funding opportunities.

For commercial buildings it might be a good idea to contact your local council to see if there are any schemes running that will reward installing a green roof, particularly in a city centre. There are a number of local planning initiatives and incentive schemes in major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and London that are being rolled out to improve offices and residential blocks.

Financing your own Green Roof

If you have the savings then you could pay for the green roof installation yourself. The benefits you will get from it in the long term will be potential reductions in fuel bills due to better insulation, and the greener impact you have on the environment around you. Taking on a DIY installation of a small roof can also help you to reduce the cost.
Find out more about the cost of green roofing here.

Taking out a loan

If you don’t have the finances readily available then the next option is to take out a loan with your bank and building society. Many now offer competitive rates for green improvements and, particularly if you are getting a designer in, it can help you afford a better garden roof. There may also be an opportunity for larger properties to incorporate the cost into a re-mortgage.

Financing for Commercial Premises

Businesses may well have a good chance of attracting local government funding or incentives if they are helping to improve the environment, particularly if they have a decent sized roof top that is suitable for development. For commercial concerns, having a green roof installed can also provide other benefits such as:

• Giving a place where people can go and relax.
• Lowering the Urban Heat Island temperature of the local area.
• Lowering heating costs in the office.
• Demonstrating your company’s green credentials.

Crowd-sourcing and Other Funding Options for Green Roofs

It’s not beyond imagination to find other options for financing your green roof. You can make it a community priority by getting your neighbours onside and run fund raising events. Or you can latch onto the craze for crowd-sourcing and get contributions from like-minded people all across the world, as some projects have attempted.