Solar panels plan for thousands of council homes
Niall Carson/Press AssociationPlans to improve the energy efficiency of almost 10,000 council-owned homes in Sheffield and lower fuel bills by 2030 are to be considered.
A combination of better insulation and solar panels would be installed in as many as 9,850 homes, if the proposals, which are expected to cost £29.6m, are approved by Sheffield City Council.
The programme, which the authority said could see tenants' bills lowered by £250 a year, would also help cut emissions and improve health across the city, according to the council.
Douglas Johnson, chair of the housing policy committee, said: "We want to deliver lasting improvements that make a real difference to tenants' household finances, health and quality of life."
"Energy bills continue to be a significant concern for many households, and these proposals could put around £250 a year back into the pockets of each household benefiting from the programme," he added.
"We want to make thousands of council homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable."
Jacob King/Press AssociationAs many as 5,250 homes could receive solar panels and batteries using third-party investment, with 4,000 homes set to see fabric improvements such as better insulation, a council spokesperson said.
If successfully delivered, the programme was estimated to save tenants collectively between £2.4m and £3.5m on their fuel bills every year, they said.
Those figures were "strategic estimates" based on national evidence and current assumptions about Sheffield's housing stock, according to the council.
The plan would help the authority meet the government requirement that all social housing meets Energy Performance Certificate Band C by April 2030, the spokesperson said.
Energy regulator Ofgem increased the price cap by 4% this month, raising energy prices for millions of households across the UK.
The plans are due to be considered by Sheffield City Council's housing policy committee at a meeting on Thursday.
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