Work has begun to improve the energy efficiency of a number of homes on a housing estate in north Powys following an investment of £2 million from the Welsh government.
Properties on the Maesydail estate and part of the Trehafren estate in Newtown will see work carried out under the Arbed scheme, which aims to tackle fuel poverty across Wales. The majority of the improvements to the homes will include external wall insulation.
Arbed, meaning “save”, is the strategic energy performance investment programme run by the Welsh Government since 2009 as part of its commitment to reduce climate change, help eradicate fuel poverty, and boost economic development and regeneration in Wales. The scheme is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Cllr Darren Mayor, cabinet member for property, buildings and housing, said: “This is a first for Powys as this is the first time funding from the Arbed programme has been awarded to support improvements in the county. We welcome the investment in Newtown, which will boost economic development, create jobs and reduce fuel bills for householders.”
The funding was announced last month by Carl Sargeant, natural resources minister for National Assembly for Wales. He said: “I am pleased that the Welsh government was to award £2m to Powys as part of our drive to tackle fuel poverty. We have invested over £20m on energy efficiency improvement works to 13 local authorities across Wales which will help reduce energy bills and increase disposable income for thousands of households across Wales.”
The home improvements being made under the Arbed programme are the latest example of government-funded energy efficiency projects being carried out across Wales. Flintshire council recently announced that it would be fitting hundreds of council homes with solar panels as part of its efforts to improve homes under the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).
