Residents in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are set to benefit following recent Government announcements about its Green Homes Grants.
The Green Homes scheme, which is designed to help make homes more energy efficient, offers vouchers to households to get energy saving work done, and also invites councils to bid for funding to run home energy efficiency projects.
A Suffolk consortium bid, including Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils, has been awarded over £1 million from the Department of Business Energy and Industry for five projects to be installed by 31 March 2021.
The funding will help insulate and install renewable heating in 48 socially rented properties in Babergh and Mid Suffolk; insulate 50 owner occupied and privately rented park homes in West Suffolk; retrofit external insulation in two properties in East Suffolk; install solid wall insulation in ten properties in Leiston and Sizewell; and install insulation and heating measures in 73 social housing properties managed by Flagship Housing Group.
The work within our districts will see 102 measures installed across 36 bungalows, four flats and eight houses, all of which are all off mains gas and fitted with electric storage heaters. Air source heat pumps and loft top ups will be fitted on all 48 properties. In addition, four properties require cavity wall insulation, and two require external wall insulation.
Cllr John Ward, Babergh District Council Leader said:
“Thanks to this grant we can now upgrade 48 heating systems in our homes across the district. By carrying out these works, we can improve their energy efficiency, while also reducing our carbon emissions and impact on the environment. This will not only work towards the aims of our Carbon Reduction Management Plan but will also improve quality of life for some of our lower income households, helping to reduce fuel poverty.”
Cllr Suzie Morley, Mid Suffolk District Council Leader said:
“This funding is great news for our tenants and will play an important role in helping to achieve our carbon neutral ambitions. Ensuring our housing stock is of a high standard and provides safe, warm and secure places to live remains our priority. We are committed to investigating further funding to improve our homes, in order to reduce our carbon emissions and support the wellbeing of our community in the place we’re proud to call home.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has announced that the Greener Homes voucher scheme for homes has been extended to March 2022, giving all households an extra year to apply for up to £5000 towards energy saving measures.
