Eligible homeowners in the Chichester District are able to apply for a special grant to upgrade their homes’ energy performance after Chichester District Council received a pot of Government funding.
Chichester has been awarded a share of just over £3.1 million from the Government’s Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme, which aims to help improve energy efficiency in people’s homes. This will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The council is one of ten other local authorities, including all districts and boroughs in West Sussex, who were part of a joint bid led by Portsmouth City Council.
The grants are for homeowners and tenants with household incomes of less than £30,000 and who live in properties with low energy performance ratings. Private landlords will be required to contribute a third of the cost. Funding will be available to install substantial energy efficient improvements such as solid wall and floor insulation, smart heating controls and low carbon heating measures such as air source heat pumps. The idea is to help people move away from fossil fuel heating technologies, focusing on insulation and low carbon technologies instead.
Councillor Alan Sutton, Cabinet Member for Housing at Chichester District Council says: “We are delighted that we have been successful with this joint bid and I would like to thank our colleagues at Portsmouth for leading this work.
“A few years ago, we carried out a study, which found that our district had a significant number of homes that were in fuel poverty, essentially where people did not have the money to heat their homes sufficiently. We also found that as a district we also have more homes than the national average that experience excess cold.
“This grant complements a number of schemes we offer to help people improve their homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run. A warmer home is a healthier home and this in turn improves residents’ general wellbeing. For example, we have supported people to install new boilers or insulation, and this has really made a difference to those people we have supported.
People can find out more and book a free assessment by visiting www.warmerhomes.org.uk or calling freephone 0800 038 5737
Cllr Sutton adds: “There are a number of schemes available to help people save money on their energy bills this winter. The West Sussex Affordable Warmth Partnership, a collaboration of the district and borough councils in West Sussex, have produced a handy newsletter highlighting some of the schemes available and this can be viewed online at: https://mcusercontent.com/6f7b5333def1cb1586f053351/files/607b6b35-167a-4030-865a-ce13379fed84/WS_Affordable_Warmth_Newsletter_Sept_2020.pdf
“Residents on a low income may also be entitled to help towards the cost of heating their home through the Government’s Warm Home Discount. You can check with your electricity provider to see if you are eligible. People can find out more at: https://chichester.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk/topics/healthy-home/wellbeing-home or call our Wellbeing team for free friendly energy advice to help you stay warm and well this Winter on: 01243 521057.”
