Millions to be invested in 138 low carbon homes in Liverpool to help tackle fuel poverty

Tenants at risk of fuel poverty in Liverpool are set to see energy bills cut through millions of pounds of low carbon upgrades to their homes.

North West growth and regeneration group Torus is investing £11.6 million in 189 properties in Liverpool and Warrington which will benefit from the eco improvements.

Torus was awarded £2.6 million from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and is investing a further £9 million of its own money.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was awarded £11.1 million from the SHDF to work with nine housing associations and Torus was given the single biggest grant in the region.

Liverpool tenants in 132 homes in Walton and six in Kensington will save an average of £206-a-year through measures including external wall and loft insulation, solar panels, replacement doors, windows and roofs along with space being left for future solar battery storage.

Work is due to start next month and should be finished next year.

Poor energy efficient homes in Liverpool

At the start of February it was revealed that more than half of Liverpool homes have poor energy efficiency ratings.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 53% homes in Liverpool had an EPC rating of Band D or below in 2020-21.

This was lower than the average across England, of 58%.

The Government is being urged to make energy efficiency a national priority, after energy regulator Ofgem announced the cap on energy prices will increase by nearly £700 from April.

What’s been said about low carbon homes

Metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Families across our city region are bracing themselves for an incredibly turbulent time ahead, as soaring energy bills continue to threaten those most at risk of fuel poverty.

“Working with local housing associations like Torus, we can ensure that every family has the right to heat their home without breaking the bank, and without impacting the environment too.

“By working with partners across the region, we have invested nearly £55 million to improve the energy efficiency of more than 5,000 homes, cutting fuel bills and helping put money back in the pockets of thousands of our most disadvantaged households.”

Torus chief operating officer Catherine Murray-Howard, added: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a warm home without worrying if they can afford it and this is going to be vital with energy bills soaring and general living costs rising.

“Not only will these new measures help save tenants money, their health and general wellbeing will improve too all while simultaneously reducing harmful emissions.”

The SHDF is overseen by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is a £3.8 billion government commitment over a 10-year period to improve the energy performance of socially rented homes.