Cornwall wins funding to make homes more energy efficient

Cornwall Council has been awarded £7.8m to help make 400 homes more energy efficient and lower carbon emissions.

The Council’s Public Health team has secured the money through the government’s Sustainable Warmth Competition, with support from OVO Energy, Council of the Isles of Scilly, and other partners.

The initiative was set up by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to enable local authorities to apply for funding to help them install energy-saving upgrades and low-carbon heating in low-income households.

Olly Monk, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, said: ‘Heating a home should not be a luxury for anybody and this money will help those on low incomes to have access to lower cost energy that is powered by renewable sources.

‘It will also lower homes’ carbon emissions, helping in tackling the climate emergency and contributing to Cornwall reaching net zero emissions by 2030.

‘This is really important and everything we can do to help make homes across Cornwall more energy efficient plays into the work that is going on to reduce our carbon footprint, as well as making people’s homes more comfortable and reducing their energy bills.’

The awarded funding will see two fuel poverty schemes run in tandem in the area.

The first will see 370 privately rented properties that are not on the gas grid helped with the installation of heating powered by renewable sources and better insulation.

The second will involve 30 social housing properties that are on the grid having their mains gas removed and replaced with renewable heating and improved insulation.

It is expected that the £7.8m will be allocated the Council in December, with work taking place until March 2023.

Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health added: ‘Having a warm home is a basic human right and this money will help people in most need, who often face the dilemma of whether they can afford heating during winter.

‘Having a warm home is not only comfortable, but also important to keeping people healthy, which in turn helps to reduce pressure on our health services.’

In related news, more support is available for landlords to improve the energy efficiency of privately rented properties in Cornwall, as the Council is confirmed as one of 59 local authorities to receive funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Photo by Darren Welsh