Thousands of households to benefit from free upgrades to reduce energy costs
More than 5,000 social homes across West Yorkshire will be made warmer, greener, and cheaper to run thanks to a significant £70 million investment announced by Mayor Tracy Brabin and Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh today (10 July).
The announcement was made during a visit to Blackshaw Drive in Bradford, where Mayor Brabin and Minister Fahnbulleh met Incommunities customer Julie, who has previously benefitted from free support to retrofit her home.
Julie, who is in remission from leukaemia and has lived in her home owned by social housing provider Incommunities since 1988, spoke of the dramatic improvements to her quality of life after her home received external wall insulation in partnership with Incommunities.
“Before the work, it was so cold and draughty the blinds would move inside. I had to go to bed in a dressing gown to keep warm. There was no insulation at all,” Julie explained.
“Now, I haven’t had to turn my heating on since January, my gas account is £400 in credit, and the house feels like it’s been truly invested in.”
The investment includes £25 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, matched by £25 million from local social housing providers, and an additional £20 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
It delivers on a key manifesto pledge from Mayor Brabin to begin retrofitting every social home in West Yorkshire, and follows the successful delivery of upgrades to more than 4,400 homes since 2020.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Homes in West Yorkshire are colder and older than in other parts of the country, and that needs to change.
“I pledged to kickstart a programme to retrofit every social home in West Yorkshire, and today, we’re delivering on that promise.
“We’ve already supported over 4,000 households to reduce their energy costs, and with this new investment, we’ll support over 5,000 more.
“By making homes warmer to live in and cheaper to run, we’ll put more money in people’s pockets and help them live happier, healthier lives.”
Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers, said:
“Living in a warm, comfortable home should not be a luxury. It is a right that has been out of reach for too many people for too long.
“By giving this funding to Mayors, local authorities and social housing providers, we are delivering on our promise to improve the homes of thousands of people across England.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we are powering on with our Warm Homes Plan, upgrading cold and draughty homes so they are warmer, cleaner, and cheaper to live in.”
The work will include measures such as external and internal wall insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, double glazing, roof insulation, and low energy lighting. The retrofit programme is being delivered by a consortium of ten housing providers, led by the Combined Authority.
With fuel poverty affecting more than one in four households in the region, the initiative forms part of the wider Home Energy West Yorkshire programme, which aims to ensure that everyone in West Yorkshire can live in a warm, comfortable and low carbon home.
Social housing tenants are encouraged to take up the free support when they are offered it. The Combined Authority and housing providers are working together to make the process easier for residents by providing additional engagement officers and support for tenants with health conditions or concerns about disruption.
Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive of Incommunities, said:
“We’re proud to be part of this ambitious programme to reduce energy bills and tackle fuel poverty. This work means that more than 3,000 of our homes will be warmer, healthier, and more affordable for families.
“Julie’s story shows just how transformational these improvements can be – not just for bills and the environment, but for people’s health and wellbeing.”