COUNCIL chiefs have revealed more than £4.3million will be spent improving the energy efficiency of fuel poor homes across the district after several successful funding bids.
Wychavon has received a share of £5.8million from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund as part of a joint bid with Rooftop Housing Group, Trent and Dove Housing Group, Citizen Housing Group and Trident Group.
Some £3million of the money will be spent in Wychavon on installing energy efficient solar and solar thermal panels, external wall insulation and loft insulation. Work is being targeted at low income households in fuel poverty and homes with a poor energy efficiency rating. The rest of the money will be spent on homes in Staffordshire and Birmingham.
More than 260 properties will be improved in total saving households up to £450 a year on their fuel bills and helping to cut carbon emissions as part of Wychavon’s Intelligently Green Plan.
Wychavon has also received £700,000 from the first phase of the Government’s Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme. This money is being used to improve the energy efficiency of 155 homes across the district through the installation of solar panels, solar thermals and draught proofing.
Another £650,000 has already been pledged to Wychavon as part of the second phase of the scheme. The money will again be targeted at fuel poor households and details are being worked up about how the funding will be distributed to make the maximum impact.
Coun Chris Day, Executive Board member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing on Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to secure this money which, together with our partners, allows us to make a very significant investment in improving the energy efficiency of homes across Wychavon.
“This will help us to cut carbon emissions to support the fight against climate change, as well as save people money.”
