Newcastle City Council secures more than £4million in funding to improve homes

The money will allow Newcastle City Council to provide fully funded energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to 200 private homes.

The Council has confirmed that the funding will be available to households on a low income, where the property’s main heating fuel is not mains gas and the property has a poor energy efficiency rating.

Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a Connected and Clean City at Newcastle City Council said: “It is great news that we have been successful in securing this additional funding to continue improvements to homes across Newcastle.

“Many residents continue to worry about their energy bills and this funding will allow us to continue to help those on low incomes and in low efficiency homes manage their energy use and decrease their home’s impact on the environment.”

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) will be delivered by Newcastle City Council partner Warmworks through the current Sustainable Warmth Scheme arrangements.

This scheme proivdes the opportunity to install energy efficiency improvements to fuel poor households in Newcastle.

As a result, the HUG2 will directly contribute to the Council’s climate change targets and continue to further its understanding of low carbon heating technologies.

Simon Kemp, managing director for Warmworks’ England and Wales division, said: “Having already delivered hundreds of energy efficiency improvements to Newcastle households under the Sustainable Warmth scheme, we’re now thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Newcastle City Council to provide energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to more local homes through this HUG2 funding.

“At a time when many people across the city will be worried about their fuel bills, the measures offered through this funding will have the potential to help fuel poor households better manage their energy costs and make their homes more affordable to heat.”

Households that are eligible for the HUG2 funding will be:

• Property tenure owner occupier or privately rented.
• Household combined income is less than £31,000 or the property is located in Multiple Deprivation areas of Newcastle with an Income Deciles score of one to three.
• The property must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of band D to G.
• The main heating fuel source is not mains gas.
• Privately rented properties are restricted to landlords with small portfolios of four or less properties and the owner is required to make a minimum contribution of a third of the cost.

Securing the HUG2 funding is the latest in a series of successful bids to help households in Newcastle become more energy effiicent.

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