Manchester to lead green homes revolution
Wednesday, 9 March 2011 12:52 PM
Social homes in the north-west of England are to be made warmer, more energy efficient and cheaper to run, under a pilot scheme as part of the government's Green Deal programme.
Housing minister Grant Shapps announced this week that improvements, such as solid wall insulation and better heating systems, would be made to 9,000 properties in Manchester.
The cost of carrying out the upgrades will be paid upfront by the local housing association, with tenants then meeting the amount through money saved on their energy bills – expected to be as much as £500 a year.
As an added bonus, the government expects the pilot to create more than 1,800 jobs in the Greater Manchester area, as well as bringing a £100 million boost to local businesses.
Shapps commented: "With homes counting for a quarter of all UK emissions, we must and can do more to make our homes greener. That's why we're nailing down a zero-carbon approach so tough new green standards can come into effect from 2016."
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has welcomed the scheme, agreeing that it is "vital" for Britain's existing homes to be made more energy efficient.
Sallie Bridgen, regional manager at the NHF, added: "By working together, social housing providers in Greater Manchester with their local authorities and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities are leading the way in reducing carbon emissions, tackling fuel poverty and providing new jobs and opportunities for thousands of people."
Want to be the first to know when we break a story? Follow @AboutProperty on Twitter.
