Essex has been awarded £6 million to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions over the next three years.
The money is from the Warm Homes: Local Grant, managed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. We bid for funding with the district, city, borough and unitary councils in the county. It will be used for measures including heat pumps, solar panels and insulation.
Applications to receive help from the Warm Homes: Local Grant in Essex will open in the summer. Homes will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This will determine which energy efficiency measures can be installed.
The Warm Homes: Local Grant is aimed at low-income and vulnerable households. This includes both owned and rented properties.
Essex County Council Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Councillor Peter Schwier, said: “We're pleased our partnership bid was successful. This new funding will make a major difference the county's most vulnerable residents over the coming years.
“No one should be living in fuel poverty. This, and climate change, are two significant issues we are continuing to take extremely seriously in Essex.
"Working with our partners, we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of our residents and protect the environment, now and for the future."
The new grant is the first step to help delivering the Warm Homes Plan. The plan will help up to 300,000 homes across England find ways to save money on energy bills. It will also help to heat homes with cleaner energy.
The partnership bid for funding did not include Basildon Council which submitted its own bid.