Broadland District Council is to receive £1.7m from the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme. The £500m scheme aims to raise the energy efficiency of around 50,000 low-income households across the UK.
It will deliver progress towards reducing fuel poverty, phasing out high carbon fossil fuel heating, and the UK's commitment to carbon net zero by 2050. Grants will be available for homes with low EPC ratings, including homes off the gas grid. In addition, the scheme is part of the government's package of Covid-19 economic stimulus measures - supporting around 16,000 jobs between 2021 and 2022.
Local Authorities and Local Energy Hubs will work through partners to deliver measures such as wall, loft, and underfloor insulation; as well as low carbon technologies. The scheme's focus is on owner occupiers and those in the private and social rented sector with a household income of under £30,000.
This scheme forms part of a wider plan to upgrade the energy efficiency of the nation's buildings. Alongside the Green Homes Grant Voucher scheme, many local authorities are also benefiting from the other schemes:
- The £1bn Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which provides grants for public sector bodies to fund energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures. This scheme is supported by the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund, which provides funding for developing bids and delivering projects. The applications window closed on 11th January, and applications are currently being assessed.
- Over £110m is also being invested in the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, to continue upgrading the least energy efficient social housing: delivering warmer homes, reducing carbon emissions and bills, and tackling fuel poverty. £50m of this investment has already been awarded to projects across the UK - successful projects will be announced in February and are due to deliver by December 2021.
Together these schemes will provide vital upgrades to UK housing, support our pathway to net zero, and increase demand for insulation and low-carbon heating measures across the country, giving the sector confidence to recruit, train and support green jobs.
