Harrogate district residents worried about the cost of keeping their homes warm this winter may be able to get grants for home insulation measures such as loft or cavity wall insulation under a new two-year project to tackle fuel poverty funded by Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
The scheme focuses on eight council wards in the district where studies have shown that some households in these areas may struggle to keep their homes warm and healthy during the cold winter months. The wards are:
- Granby
- Low Harrogate
- High Harrogate
- Starbeck
- Woodfield
- Ripon Minster
- Saltergate and
- New Park
Households in these areas with annual incomes below £20,000 per year could receive free measures, whilst those with annual incomes between £20,000 and £35,000 could receive 75 per cent towards the cost of the improvements.
In other parts of the district, residents with low incomes and high heating costs may also be able to receive help.
The scheme is being jointly managed for Harrogate, York, Craven and Selby councils by City of York Council, so eligible residents should contact York’s Housing Standards and Adaptations team to find out more. Telephone 01904 552300 or email housing.standards@york.gov.uk
£169,000 is being provided for the scheme in the Harrogate district by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, as part of a £5 million programme across the ten City Region councils.
Councillor Mike Chambers is Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for Housing and Safer Communities. He said:
It’s great that our work to help to improve living conditions for local residents continues to be acknowledged by our Leeds City Region partners.
This initiative is a major opportunity which I hope families and households on lower incomes living with high heating bills will take up.
For help with energy debts or other advice contact Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cravenandharrogatedistrictscab
