Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has secured £11.3m to install energy-saving measures in 1,200 homes and Next Energy will take on the work in 800 of them. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool energy systems specialist Next Energy has won an £8.1m contract to install energy-saving measures in more than 800 properties across Liverpool city region.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has awarded the contract which is designed to help tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. The cash is coming from the Government’s Green Homes Grant scheme.

In total, £11.3m from the scheme will be split across the city region’s six local authorities – Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, Halton, Sefton andSt Helens and Wirral – and will pay for work to be carried out on around 1,200 homes.

Lee McNally, director of Next Energy, said: “As a company, eradicating fuel poverty, reducing carbon emissions in the UK and helping customers keep their homes warm are key priorities for us.

“We have already begun assessing properties in order to identify and achieve these efficient home improvements across the Liverpool city region. We have already delivered large energy efficient projects alongside other local authorities and utility companies.”

The six local authorities will select the properties that will benefit from this funding. All work will be completed by the end of March 2022. It is targeted at properties in the private sector (owner occupiers and the private rented sector) and in most cases in certain geographical areas within the six local authorities.

To be eligible, household income must be less than £30,000 a year. The property must also have a low energy efficiency rating – that is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G – and where the property doesn’t have an EPC, an assessment may be carried out.

Potential improvements will vary depending on the individual property and within the types of works and maximum costs per property allowed. Works might include loft and cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, alternative heating systems such as air source heat pumps, and solar PV panels.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “At a time when more and more people are at risk of fuel poverty because of rising prices and widespread supply issues, it’s vital that we do everything we can to help people heat their homes as cheaply and efficiently as possible without heating the planet too. 

“It’s brilliant to see a local company win this contract so we’re able to keep a lot of this funding in the local economy. Putting in energy-saving measures, like additional insulation or solar panels, will help reduce our carbon emissions but it can have a much bigger impact on people’s lives too.”