Residents set to benefit from new scheme to upgrade homes

Solar panels, loft insulation and external wall insulation will all be installed free of charge in up to 260 social housing properties that have been identified as being expensive to heat and in need of upgrades.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund has provided £2.4m to carry out this project, alongside £2.7m committed by the city council.

The completion of these energy efficiency improvements over the next two years will see homes improve from Energy Performance Certificate ratings of D and E to B and C. This could help households save as much as £400 a year on their energy bills, as well as helping to cut carbon emissions.

This project builds upon the council's recent successful completion of similar schemes, including an earlier round of Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding and Sustainable Warmth Funding, which improved the energy efficiency of 320 homes across the city.

Councillor Beth Jones, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing, said:

"Our priority is to provide good quality homes for residents and the awarding of this funding recognises our ongoing work to make sure everyone in Norwich has somewhere warm, safe and affordable to live.

"And not only will this scheme improve the homes of our tenants and save them money on bills, it will also help meet the city's ambition to be net zero by 2045."