A landmark programme for residents to implement energy efficiency measures in their homes has been agreed to bring over £20m of investment into the region and improve over 12,000 privately owned or rented homes.
The new partnership will pool the expertise and resources from all partners to deliver a home energy offer to residents which could include new boilers, central heating systems, standard and hard to treat insulation measures and renewable energy systems.
In the first three years alone, the programme aims to deliver energy efficiency measures to over 12,000 homes including a minimum of 800 in York, and create jobs and apprenticeships for local people. As a result of these efficiency measures, the programme could bring £20m of investment into the Leeds City Region and increase the GVA growth.
To launch the scheme in York, KSW will offer 80 Green Deal communities fund vouchers, targeted at specific groups/neighbourhoods. The vouchers will help with the costs of installing measures and will be worth up to £750 per resident. In addition a private home will be retrofitted with up to £15k worth of funding energy efficiency measures and will become a demonstration show house.
The energy efficiency measures will be delivered by private sector partners at Keepmoat and Willmott Dixon Energy Services with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority overseeing the delivery. A wide range of measures will be available to households across the region, households eligible during the first phase of the programme will be contacted by Keepmoat and Willmott Dixon Energy Services over the next few weeks. The offer will be opened up to all home owners and privately renting tenants from Spring 2015.
Residents can register their interest to join the Better Homes scheme at www.betterhomesyorkshire.co.uk ahead the programme launching in spring.
The Better Homes partnership have also been working with Construction & Housing Yorkshire (CHY) to ensure that the contracted works create local employment, generate skills and provide local businesses with supply chain opportunities. Through CHY and the Green Deal Communities Fund, local businesses have the opportunity to gain PAS2030 accreditation and join Better Homes Yorkshire’s supply chain. To find out more information visit the Green Deal Installers Hub website or call CHY on 0113 881 4810.