Walsall Housing Group Residents are First to Benefit from British Gas Energy Efficiency Programme
Walsall Housing Group (WHG)
residents are the first to benefit from a Government scheme being rolled out by British Gas to make homes more energy efficient. British Gas is the first energy company to start work under the £350 million Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which will see 90,000 homes across England, Wales and Scotland receive whole house energy makeovers to save hard-pressed families around £300 per year on fuel bills. On the 25th January Joan Ruddock MP, Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, was in Walsall to meet with some of the residents and talk about the benefits they are experiencing as a result of the scheme. Walsall Housing Group
properties in Blakenall are being given a range of energy saving improvements, that impact on the whole house. These include external cladding and extra loft insulation to reduce heat loss, as well as new, energy efficient boilers. As a result of these improvements, the residents will benefit from lower bills and warmer
homes. They will also get advice from experts about what simple steps they can take to save even more energy. Working in partnership with WHG and Walsall Council, the initiative will roll out to approximately 130 homes in the Blakenall and St Matthews areas of Walsall over the next few months. Two of the residents that the Minister met were Christine and John Dunn from Thames Road, who have lived in the same house for 36 years. External cladding has been fitted to the outside of their house and a new boiler has been installed. Mrs Dunn said, “Even though we only had the work done a few weeks ago, we’re already starting to feel the benefit. Our home is definitely much warmer and we don’t have to have the heating on as much as we did previously. We had our granddaughter to stay with us recently and she said it was so warm she had to kick her quilt off in the night. It’s also good to know that this is helping us do our bit for the environment too – we’d recommend it to anyone.” The work in Walsall is being carried
out as part of the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which is a joint initiative between the government, energy suppliers and power generators to help low income communities. A total of £350 million worth of energy efficiency measures will be installed in homes throughout the UK over the next three years. British Gas will be spending approximately £70 million on CESP projects. Gearoid Lane, Director of Communities and New Energy, British Gas, said, “We’re very pleased that Walsall is the first area in the country to receive energy saving improvements under the new British Gas programme. It is a great example of the community, local housing provider and Walsall Council working together with British Gas to make residents’ homes warmer and more energy efficient. Given the weather we’re experiencing this winter, the timing could not have been better.” Energy and Climate Change Minister, Joan Ruddock, said, “I am delighted to be visiting the first homes benefiting from the Government’s £350 million
Community Energy Saving Programme. Helping those in need is a key priority for the Government and making homes more energy efficient is the best way to increase their comfort and warmth, and permanently reduce fuel bills. The residents of Blakenall in Walsall are already seeing the benefits of the new boilers and insulation British Gas has installed.” Gary Fulford, Group Chief
Executive of Walsall Housing Group, said, “This is brilliant news for WHG customers and will make a real difference to many residents who live in fuel poverty but still want to do their bit for the environment. We have spent over £300 million on programmes of improvements to our homes over the last six years and this partnership with British Gas will continue this work. Residents in the houses receiving the improvements will be delighted that not only will their homes be more energy efficient, but will also be more comfortable to live in. We look forward to working with British Gas to maximise the benefits of the project.”
Plans Approved to Put the Heart Back into the City of Salford
The biggest-ever planning application for the city of Salford was given the green light by Salford City Council on Thursday 21st January in a unanimous decision. The application, submitted by English Cities Fund (ECF) with the support of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, was larger than that submitted for the first phase of MediaCityUK and will link key sites such as the University of Salford and The Crescent, Chapel Street and the region’s business district - Spinningfields. Covering an area of 17.744 ha –
equivalent to 21 international football pitches – it follows more than two years of consultation with the community and stakeholders and aims to deliver the holistic regeneration of this important part of Salford for the benefit of existing and potential residents, businesses and visitors. Sir Michael Lyons, non-executive Chairman of the English Cities Fund, said, “I am delighted that
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Salford City Council has today resolved to grant planning permission for this English Cities Fund development. The decision is a significant landmark and lays the foundations for the much needed regeneration of this area. There remains a considerable amount of work to do before development commences; however, with the continued support of its partners and the local community, I am confident that ECF will produce a development that Salford can be proud of.” The approved plans will create
the conditions to assist the successful regeneration of the area, which includes a number of distinct districts including: Salford Central Station, Chapel Street, Adelphi and the Historic Core, which features the Adelphi and Bexley Square Conservation Area and listed buildings such as St Philips Church and Salford Cathedral. The Chapel Street area occupies
a key location and is the western gateway, which links the rest of Salford, including MediaCityUK, through to Manchester city centre. The plans would see Chapel Street restored, improving the setting of its historic buildings and putting the heart back into Salford. The proposed development is
centred on creating sustainable communities with the correct balance of uses. New offices, commercial, retail and leisure uses will be complemented by family housing and apartments linked by high-quality public realm and civic spaces. A new square, St Johns Place, is planned to maximise the view of the newly renovated Salford Cathedral. A new Commercial Quarter will make the most of Salford’s strategic location next to Spinningfields and the corporate heart of Manchester. Chris Farrow, Chief Executive of Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, said, “Today’s decision marks a critical
milestone in the regeneration of this key area of the City. Over the last 2 years Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company, in close partnership with our public and private sector partners, local businesses and communities, has worked tirelessly on the planning, design and consultation for the Chapel Street area. “We can now look forward to
driving forward the regeneration of the Chapel Street area to create a vibrant, urban centre and a more beautiful setting for its many historical and natural assets.” The floor space for the proposed
development includes: 849 new homes, 390 hotel rooms, 24,000 m2
of retail, food and drink
and entertainment space and 197,000 m2
of office space.
Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council lead member for planning said, "This is an ambition of local people, local businesses as well as the local council.”
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