Member Article

£8m Fuel Poverty Scheme Celebrates Landmark

An £8m scheme tackling fuel poverty in the North East is celebrating after expanding to more than double its original size

The GoWarm Parkfield scheme, run by community interest company Community Energy Solutions (CES) and Stockton Borough Council, was originally planned to offer free energy efficiency measures and benefits advice to 600 homes across Stockton-On-Tees.

Now, 12 months on, the scheme has instead benefitted more than 1600 properties in the Parkfield, Newtown and Mill Lane wards of Stockton, as well as the Mandale and Victoria areas of Thornaby. It has also created work for more than 500 people.

This week representatives from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) joined local residents and members of GoWarm, Stockton Borough Council and various contractors, to mark the end of the scheme and see the results first hand.

Speaking at the event Karen Hindhaugh, Director of GoWarm said: “To look around and see what has been achieved in just a year is really quite amazing. I would like to thank the local residents, Stockton Council, our funding partners and numerous contractors, whose ongoing support and hard work have helped make it all possible.”

The £8m GoWarm Parkfield project, the largest scheme of its kind to be carried out in the UK, was funded by North Yorkshire-based Eggborough Power Ltd via the Government-backed Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which targets households in areas of low income to improve energy efficiency standards and reduce fuel bills.

Under the terms of the scheme each of the 1600 eligible properties have been given a package of multiple energy efficiency measures, such as external wall or cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, boiler replacements, new heating systems and controls and draught proofing, all designed to cut their energy bills by up to £750 a year.

They have also been offered free energy efficiency and benefits advice, with external works being carried out on each property to help improve the overall look of the area.

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor David Rose, who also addressed guests at the celebration event, said: “The GoWarm scheme has been fantastic for Stockton Borough. Not only are the residents of the targeted areas reporting that for the first time ever, their homes are warmer and cheaper to heat, but they also have a real pride in the way their streets look.

“While the driver behind this project was energy efficiency, it has also had a huge impact on the regeneration of the area as a whole and it’s great to see that sense of community emerging again.”

For more information about the GoWarm Parkfield project visit www.gowarm.org.uk, call 01642 605130, drop into the office at Blue Post Yard, Stockton or search for GoWarm Parkfield on Facebook and Twitter.

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