Some of Swindon and Wiltshire’s most vulnerable households will receive energy efficiency improvements over the next year.
The South West Energy Hub, hosted by the West of England Combined Authority, will work with Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council to deliver over £5m worth of home upgrades across Swindon and Wiltshire, following a successful bid to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)’s Home Upgrade Grant fund.
£5,031,652 will be split across Swindon and Wiltshire, and used to install energy efficiency measures in homes in the area, helping to raise their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to Band C.
A total of 241 households, including social rent, low income and living in areas without mains gas – both rented and owner-occupied – will benefit from these improvements helping to reduce their bills and make their homes warmer.
Upgrades include wall and roof insulation as well as new low-carbon heating systems, thermostats and room heating controls.
Jon Rattenbury, Programme Manager for the South West Energy Hub, said: “This is welcome news from Central Government that will make a huge difference in the energy bills of people across the region, while limiting impact on the environment as we move forward as a region towards net zero.
“We look forward to working with our partners in Swindon and Wiltshire to deliver sustainable home upgrades that will make homes warmer and address fuel poverty.”
Councillor David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “With the climate crisis and steep rise in energy prices, it has never been more important to support residents wherever possible in reducing their energy bills, making their homes warmer and at the same time reducing their environmental impact.
“This Government funding is welcome and will be put to work to benefit households in Swindon and Wiltshire. I’d encourage any Swindon residents who are concerned about rising energy bills or who need energy saving advice, to contact the free and impartial Warm and Safe Wiltshire service at warmandsafewiltshire.org.uk or by calling 0800 038 5722.”
Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “This new grant will make a big difference to low-income families, not only saving them on their energy bills but providing them with greener, warmer homes.
“We are looking forward to collaborating with the Swindon and South West Energy Hub teams to reduce fuel poverty and help families live more comfortably at a challenging time when the cost of living is rising.”
Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Climate said: “It’s great news that we have been awarded this grant by Central Government; as a council we are working towards enabling the county of Wiltshire become carbon neutral. This grant will help to fund energy efficient measures such as wall and roof insulation, as well as low-carbon heating systems, thermostats and room heating controls – all of which will make homes warmer as well as greener.”
The funded energy efficiency upgrades will be delivered across Swindon and Wiltshire by March 2023.
