By John Baron
Senior councillors are set to approve a £12.99m scheme to make 350 older back-to-back homes in Armley and Holbeck easier to heat and help reduce fuel poverty among householders.
Members of the decision-making executive board will next Wednesday hear that the fund will be used in the Cedars area of Armley to address disrepair in 100 properties before undertaking extensive improvements. These include external wall and attic room insulation and replacement doors and windows where required.
250 properties in the Rydalls/ Shaftons/ Crosbys/ Runswicks and Pleasants areas of Holbeck have also been selected.
The council will also carry out a feasibility study into installing low carbon heating to reduce heating bills for householders in the Cedars, which would take the form of networked ground source heat pumps to be based in green space at nearby Armley Leisure Centre.
A report to be considered by councillors says the Cedars is in the 10% most deprived areas in the country, has a higher proportion of private rented properties than the Leeds average and almost 20% of residents living there are living in fuel poverty.
The report says the project will help reduce carbon emissions as the council strives for the city to have net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and improve the health of tenants by providing warmer homes. It adds: “The council is focusing on these areas as older solid walled properties have traditionally been difficult to improve due to the high cost of solid wall and attic room insulation.”
Members of the council’s decision-making executive board are set to take the decision on whether to approve the scheme at their meeting at Leeds Civic Hall next Wednesday, 17 April, at 1pm.
Much of the finance for the project is coming from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and the government’s levelling up fund. The scheme would start on site in June 2024, following a tenant engagement programme.
The full council report can be read here.
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Thy need knocking down now 12.99 ?