Almost £9 million allocated to help heat homes

15 Oct 2013 03:51 PM

Additional funding will continue to drive down fuel poverty.

Householders in local authorities across Scotland are to benefit from further multi-million pound funding which will make their homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and easier and cheaper to heat.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced yesterday (October 15) the allocation of almost £9 million in Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) funding.

This is the second allocation of the £55 million HEEPS pot, with just over £46 million distributed to every local authority in Scotland during the first allocation in June this year.

Local authorities were asked to apply for further funding, with North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Fife, Falkirk, Midlothian, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire, Glasgow and Perth and Kinross councils all receiving a share.

The investment, targeted at fuel poor households, will be used for the installation of energy efficiency measures such as solid wall, cavity and loft insulation.

Mrs Burgess today visited a housing development in Hillyland, Perth where work is being carried out through HEEPS to insulate almost 160 homes.

Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said:

"The Scottish Government is determined to help householders stay warm and reduce their energy bills.

"Basic energy efficiency measures can make a huge difference to Scottish families who are struggling to make ends meet, allowing them to heat their homes more cost effectively.

“Rising energy bills remain a huge concern for this government . Today’s funding will see thousands of homes across Scotland receive new measures like solid wall insulation– helping to drive down the number of people living in fuel poverty.

“This further investment will also help to generate work and support jobs – providing a much needed boost to our economy.

“To help tackle fuel poverty we are actively working with councils and energy companies to ensure that Scotland continues to get its fair share of funding for efficiency programmes like these. Unlike the UK Government, we believe it is important to provide this type of funding, which is why we are committing around a quarter of a billion pounds to it in this spending review period.”

Householders who would like to know more about this and other Scottish Government funded offers can contact the Scottish Government’ s Home Energy Scotland hotline on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.

Notes to editors

The funding is being delivered through the Scottish Government’s new Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS), which was formerly known as the National Retrofit Programme.

Scottish Ministers have made available £55 million for area-based schemes to tackle fuel poverty. This funding represents the second allocation of that.

In June, £46 million worth of funding was announced. Today’s announcement will see £8.8 million worth of funding distributed to 10 councils who applied for additional funding.

Local authorities will be expected to target areas of fuel poverty and work with Housing Associations, energy companies, installers, owner-occupiers and private rented landlords to ensure all households in that area receive an offer to have the energy efficiency of their home improved.

Breakdown of funding for local authority areas:

Council	HEEPS: ABS Funding
North Ayrshire	£347,833.00
North Lanarkshire	£380,900.00
Fife	£877,321.00
Falkirk	£1,515,999.00
Midlothian	£266,202.00
West Dunbartonshire	£495,000.00
Renfrewshire	£932,339.00
Clackmannanshire	£74,294.00
Glasgow	£2,001,571.00
Perth & Kinross	£1,921,947
Total	£8,813,406