More than 200 homes across Teesside are set to benefit from more efficient heating and lower energy bills thanks to the launch of a new fuel poverty project worth up to £900,000.

Leading social housing providers Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing are joining forces with Northern Gas Networks, Community Energy Solutions (CES) and Carillion Energy Services to replace the heating systems in 230 of their properties across Hartlepool, Stockton, Hemlington (Middlesbrough) and Redcar, which are currently without a mains gas supply.

As well as connection to the gas mains network, each of the properties will also receive a new high efficiency, A-rated gas central heating system, designed to lower their energy bills and make their homes more comfortable to live in.

Gas connection works, to be carried out by gas pipeline owner Northern Gas Networks and community interest company CES, are due to start on all four sites in the coming weeks.

Once this is completed, then household installation work, part-funded and carried out by Carillion Energy Services, is expected to commence early next year.

The project forms part of a wider sustainability strategy implemented by Fabrick Housing Group - made up of parent company Fabrick and partner companies Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing - and cements its commitment to tackling fuel poverty, making it easier for vulnerable households facing rising energy costs.

Geoff Prior, Head of Asset Management for Fabrick Housing Group said: “This project will help provide some of our most vulnerable tenants with affordable and energy efficient heating they can use for years to come and it’s fantastic to be working with our partners to bring these tangible benefits to fruition.”

The project, set to cost up to £900,000 is being part-funded by the Government-backed Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), with £240,000 being sourced by Carillion through power generator and CESP-funding partner InterGen UK. A further £200,000 will come from Northern Gas Networks’ tackling fuel poverty initiative, which has been made available through regulation changes introduced by Ofgem.

Kevin Drake, Project Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “Bringing affordable warmth to communities affected by fuel poverty is a vital part of Northern Gas Networks’ activities and we are committed to funding projects like this one in Teesside, which provide a more efficient and cost effective energy source in the long term.”

The project is the latest in a series of similar programmes undertaken through the partnership between Northern Gas Networks and Community Energy Solutions, which was established by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (formerly DTI) in 2006 to tackle the issue of affordable warmth by updating householders’ fuel options.

Since April 2009, Northern Gas Networks has committed more than £2.5million worth of funding to support activities, like the project in Teesside, via its partnership with CES, with this being the first project to be carried out in association with Fabrick Housing Group.

Chris Sowerbutts, Project Manager for CES, said: “We are delighted to once again be working alongside Northern Gas Networks to tackle fuel poverty across the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions and in particular to be teaming up with Fabrick Housing Group, building on other projects to bring benefits to the partners in the group and their tenants.”

Dan Ludgate, from Carillion Energy Services, said: “This is great example of different organisations and businesses working in partnership and collaboration to deliver real and sustainable benefits for our communities.”

For more information about the scheme and Community Energy Solutions visit www.cesgroup.org or call 0113 237 2720. You can also contact Fabrick Housing Group on 08000 461 600 or Carillion Energy Services on 0191 2555264
 

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