MORE than £31 million has been put forward to improve the energy efficiency of homes across Northumberland.

The money is to be split between private properties and social housing. The warm homes local grant, which is 100 per cent Government-funded, will improve 900 private homes at an estimated cost of £15.5 million, while the warm homes social housing fund is worth £15.6 million – although £7 million will come from council coffers.

The private homes grants will be means-tested and are only available for households with an income of less than £36,000 a year.

Furthermore, landlords will only receive 100 per cent funding for improvements on one property, with only 50 per cent provided for additional houses.

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Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting (November 12) of Northumberland County Council’s cabinet, portfolio holder for housing Cllr Colin Horncastle explained the scheme.

He said: “What this does mean, if we agree it today, is a massive investment into this county of around £30 million. Nine hundred homes for each of these two programmes will be brought up to EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) C.

“The Government has targets that all fuel-poor homes should be EPC C by 2030 – and let’s face it, that is not far away. The council will accept the funding of £15.5 million to deliver 300 homes per year for 900 in total.

“This is the best and easiest way to help people in any sort of home to increase the energy insulation and help those in fuel poverty.”

Fuel poverty is when a household spends a large portion of its income on keeping its home at a reasonable temperature. In England, a household is considered fuel-poor if they live in a property with a fuel-poverty energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and if they have less than the official poverty line left after paying for heating.

On the social housing funding, Cllr Horncastle said the council’s investment would represent “good value for money”.

He added: “The council face a significant challenge to improve the energy efficiency of our social housing stock. It is estimated that there are 2,300 homes below the EPC requirements.

“If we get ahead with this, it would be a massive help. This is something that we really need.”

The move was welcomed by cabinet member for healthy lives Cllr Veronica Jones.

She said: “The health and wellbeing board identified good housing as one of the building blocks for living well. This work here to provide warm homes is a component of our plan for tackling inequalities.

“It is so important and I’m really pleased to support it.”

The cabinet unanimously agreed to move forward with the project.