Cost of living win in Mayor’s drive for greener homes in West Yorkshire

11 March 2024

According to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, around 3,000 rented council and social houses have benefitted from green measures that make it cheaper for people to heat their homes.

The interventions include solar panels, heat pumps, double and triple window glazing, and loft, wall and ground floor insultation, to help residents save hundreds of pounds a year on energy bills. The latest figures from the Combined Authority published this week show that the average band D home could save up to £680 per year.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, who heads up the regional authority and has pledged to build more affordable and sustainable homes, has secured nearly £40 million to make council and social homes warmer and cheaper to run, with half of this funding coming from social housing providers through the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

This news comes as regional leaders come together to approve a new £1.7 million package to install whole house insulation for 100 Victorian terraces in Armley, at a Combined Authority meeting later this week (14 March).

The plans follow Mayor Brabin’s pledge to tackle the climate emergency, put West Yorkshire on the path to Net Zero by 2038, and deliver a “regional mission” to build a “Sustainable” region, in collaboration with councils and social housing providers.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

“I’m delighted that through devolution, people across West Yorkshire are saving more money and living in warmer homes during the cost of living crisis.

“We’re committed to deepening our partnership working across West Yorkshire to improve thousands more council and social homes, and build a greener, more vibrant region that is resilient to the climate challenges of the future.

“As we look to deliver a net zero carbon region by 2038, we must ensure that all our homes are fit for the future, which is why we’ll soon be announcing plans to help people improve owned and privately rented homes across the region.”

Data shows that through the work of the Combined Authority, local councils and social housing providers, over 1,400 homes in Wakefield, 700 homes in Bradford and 700 homes in Calderdale have benefitted from insulation, while 500 homes in Leeds are also set to receive insulation by March 2025. Kirklees Council has also invested in a range of green measures, including insulation, solar panels and heat pump installations in over 400 homes.

It is estimated that 680,000 homes across West Yorkshire need to undergo green renovation work to help the region meet its goal of net zero by 2038.

Therefore, plans are being discussed to set up a regional “One Stop Shop” later this year, so that all residents and homeowners in West Yorkshire can receive access to tailored guidance and support to make home improvements and save hundreds of pounds a year on energy bills.

Work to install solar panels and battery storage on up to 1,500 social homes will also begin this spring, as part of a £15 million West Yorkshire Housing Partnership scheme.

The Combined Authority has also recently secured over £800,000 of government funding to deliver trusted advice and guidance to people across the region on how to fix their draughty homes, and is looking to launch a low interest retrofit loan, which will further help people to invest to make their homes warmer for the long-term.

The West Yorkshire Housing Strategy, which will set the region’s vision for housing until 2040, will also launch in Summer 2024. This will build on the region’s Strategic Place Partnership agreement with Homes England, which could help deliver up to 40,000 homes over the coming decades.