£5m boost to upgrade council houses in South Tyneside and help with fuel bills
Council bosses have been given a £5.4m boost to help make homes in South Tyneside more energy efficient.
The Green Homes Grant (GHG) funding will be used to upgrade council housing stock through a range of energy improvement and de-carbonisation measures – helping residents with their fuel bills and help reduce fuel poverty.
The cash from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will target 1,570 households – with work including tripled glazed windows, cavity wall and loft insulation and replacing some roofs with solar panels.
Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council said: “Following on from the funding we secured to decarbonise council buildings, I am delighted that we have been able to secure further funding to upgrade council homes.
“Not only will these improvements help the borough’s overall carbon footprint, they will have a direct positive impact for those living in the properties.”
She added: “Wherever possible the property upgrades will look to develop additional green jobs locally by using local companies for both materials and insultation.
“As a council we are fully committed to driving forward projects that reduce our own carbon footprint and that of our residents. This funding will save households money; cut carbon; and create green jobs.”
The whole scheme will look to spend £8.8m – with £5.4m funded through central Government grants.
The funding secured by the council is for council housing stock.
The Government have a scheme in place for homeowners, who can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 towards the cost of making homes more energy efficient. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/apply-green-homes-grant