Energy efficient improvements for 9,000 social homes in Manchester

9,000 social homes in Manchester are to get improvements such as solid wall insulation and better heating systems to make them more energy efficient.

The cost of the work will be paid upfront by the housing association - tenants will then meet this cost through the money they save on energy bills, which could be up to £500 per year.

The project could create more than 1,800 jobs and bring a £100m boost to local businesses carrying out the home improvements.

The project will test key features of the Green Deal - the government's new and radical way of making energy efficiency available to all, whether people that own or rent their property.

Upgrades will initially be made to 2,500 properties within the Greater Manchester Housing Retrofit Programme, and will prepare the way for Greater Manchester's 260,000 social homes to take up the Green Deal.

Manchester's pioneering scheme will provide a valuable model for upgrading the country's 3.8 million households in the social rented sector, which account for nearly 20 per cent of all households in England.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "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."

"But we also want to upgrade existing housing stock so everyone can enjoy the benefits of warmer homes and lower energy bills."

Further information:
Department for Communities and Local Government