City council signs £9m retrofit deal to improve 500 homes

Up to £630m will be distributed to UK councils through the scheme to help them deliver their retrofit projects from April 2023 to March 2025.

Next Energy was established in 2016 in response to the government’s net zero ambitions. It has provided insulation and heating upgrades for 18,000 domestic and commercial customers, including social landlords, across the UK.

To access the scheme, residents must be owning or renting their home, earn a total income of less than £31,000 a year and have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D, E, F or G.

The retrofit process includes installing a variety of measures, such as insulation, air-source heat pumps and solar PV (photovoltaic) panels, among other items.

Lee McNally, director of Next Energy, encouraged families to apply for the scheme as it gives them “the chance to properly insulate their homes and save over £500 a year on bills”.

He added: “We want to tackle fuel poverty head on, and these grants will help us deliver much-needed energy improvements to hundreds of households across Manchester.”

Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said: “This scheme will help residents reduce their energy bills, benefit our communities by reducing carbon emissions, and contribute to the wider decarbonisation process in Manchester.”

Mr White encouraged all residents who do not use gas boilers to check if they are eligible for the scheme.

Tracey Rawlins, executive member for environment and transport at Manchester City Council, explained that the initiative will help ease the burden on rising bills while “supporting Manchester’s ambitious environment aims”.

Manchester has a target to be net zero by 2038, which is 12 years ahead of the UK government’s 2050 ambition.

Towards the end of last year, the council approved a new framework that will be used to underpin future development proposals in the north-east of the city.