Tenants in two high-rise blocks in Kirkstall could save £600 a year from their energy bills thanks to the installation of eco-friendly ground source heat pumps.
People living in the Clayton Grange and Clayton Court high-rise blocks will be the next to benefit from green upgrades, the council has today confirmed.
Tenants in each flat are expected to save approximately £600 per year on energy bills as a result of a new decarbonisation project.
120 properties in the two blocks are to be connected to innovative ground source heat pumps after the council secured another £1.0 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s ‘Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund’ this week. The council will add £2.1 million of its own funding to deliver a £3.1m scheme.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing, said: “This scheme will make a real difference to the families in these homes, potentially cutting energy bills by 70%.
“As the biggest landlord in the city, Leeds City Council has a responsibility to make sure that we are leading by example. That’s why our ambitious commitment to invest £100 million in social housing decarbonisation by 2025 – which I am pleased to say that we are on track to deliver – is so important.”
Ground source heat pumps have also been installed at West Leeds high rise blocks including Heights West and Heights East in Wortley and Westerly Croft and Westerly Rise in Armley.
Rycroft Green, Rycroft Towers, Rycroft Court and Rycroft Place in Swinnow have also had the system installed, along with Queenswood Heights and Queenswood Court in Kirkstall. The Poplars in Armley have also had them installed, alongside some of the Burnsalls.
Leeds secures £16.8 million for green upgrades
Hundreds more households will enjoy cheaper energy bills thanks to green upgrades after Leeds City Council secured £16.8 million to progress its plans to deliver climate-friendly housing across the city.
The funding will enable the council to kick start the delivery of its new Net Zero Homes Plan, which sets out actions the local authority will take to install low carbon heating and tackle heat loss from Leeds’ residential buildings.
Last week, senior councillors approved the document which sets out blueprints for how the council can work with the private sector, community groups, and government to enable every Leeds household to access property improvements that make homes healthier, more environmentally friendly, and cheaper to live in.
One-in-six (17.6%) Leeds households were classed as living in fuel poverty in 2020, officially defined as living in a relatively inefficient home and having an income below the poverty line once energy bills are paid for.
Better insulating Leeds’ buildings to tackle heat loss – alongside other measures to improve energy efficiency – will help to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions simultaneously.
A key commitment within the Net Zero Homes Plan is to establish a simple one-stop-shop hub with council partners for homeowners and landlords to get trusted, tailored advice on the benefits of installing different green upgrades.
As well as educating residents, the service will also be able to recommend trusted contractors and will eventually offer property-linked finance options from private sector partners.
A truncated version of the Net Zero Homes Plan can be read online.
