Suffolk’s local authorities are now able to provide fully funded central heating systems* to 514 fuel poor households across Suffolk over the next three years. Around 4 million UK households are in fuel poverty, unable to affordably heat their home to the temperature needed to stay warm and healthy. As well as being on low incomes many of these households are also faced with the additional burden of relying on heating systems that are inefficient and expensive to run.
The local authorities working together as the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership have been successful in securing funding from the first round of the Warm Homes Fund for a project worth £4.3 million.
The Suffolk project is being managed by the County Council, administered by Suffolk Warm Homes Healthy People based at Suffolk Coastal District Council and supported with further funding from Babergh, Mid-Suffolk, Forest Heath and Waveney District Councils plus Ipswich and St Edmundsbury Borough Councils. Alongside the first-time heating system, households will also be able to benefit from new insulation measures to make the homes more energy efficient as well as grants from the Suffolk Community Foundation’s ‘Surviving Winter Appeal’ where eligible.
Councillor Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection said “I am delighted that this funding has been secured. The local authorities in Suffolk have a long track record of securing funding to support our most vulnerable residents. This project will enable us to make a practical, long lasting difference to improve their living conditions and make their homes more affordable to heat.
I would urge anyone who does not have a central heating system and finds it a challenge to afford their energy bills to contact Suffolk Warm Homes Healthy People on 03456 037686 quoting the Warm Homes Fund.”
The new £150m fund was established by National Grid using part of the proceeds from the sale of the company’s majority stake in its gas distribution business. It will fund the installation of affordable heating solutions in fuel poor households which don’t use mains gas as their primary source of heat.
John Pettigrew, Chief Executive of National Grid said: “The aim of our new fund is threefold; to help to reduce bills, make fuel poor households warmer and improve the health of people suffering the most severe levels of fuel poverty.”
*subject to survey and conditions
To find out more via the following links:
Suffolk Climate Change Partnership – http://www.greensuffolk.org/about/suffolk-climate-change-partnership/
Warm Homes Fund – https://www.affordablewarmthsolutions.org.uk/warm-homes-fund/overview?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=The_Warm_Homes_Fund&utm_medium=email
Suffolk Warm Homes Healthy People – http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/housing/energy-efficiency/warm-homes-healthy-people/
Suffolk Community Foundation ‘Surviving Winter Appeal – http://suffolkcf.org.uk/give/survivingwinterappeal/