Park home residents benefit from improved energy efficient measures

Residents living in some of the borough’s most inefficient homes have benefited from energy efficient measures being installed, helping to lower their fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Funding through the Government’s first phase of the national Green Homes Grant scheme for Local Authority Delivery has been used to fund the work.

The Council’s partner, Qwest Services, secured the £439,750 grant funding on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council and managed the project of  external wall insulation work on 35 park homes in the borough.

The insulation will help to reduce carbon emissions produced from heating homes, whilst also lowering fuel bills and improving the health and wellbeing of the residents living there.

Doreen and her husband George, from Northwich, recently had work completed in their home, funded by the Green Homes Grant scheme. Doreen said: “We had the insulation fitted at the end of February and noticed straight away that it made a difference and helped to keep the house warmer, especially at night. It’s something we could never have afforded to do ourselves. We’re really pleased with it and hope that it will reduce our heating bills.”

All homes that have benefitted from the improvements have a combined household income of less than £30,000 per and are within the lowest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band ratings.  Many park homes were built before current building regulations were in place and as a consequence are poorly insulated and off the main gas grid making them difficult and more expensive to heat.

Councillor Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Climate Emergency, said: “It’s great to see funding like the Green Homes Grant being used to help improve the insulation of homes like Doreen and George’s. We have a borough-wide target to be carbon neutral by 2045 and, as housing makes up 14 per cent of the borough’s total carbon emission, it’s vital that we focus on improving the borough’s most inefficient homes first. These types of home improvements not only reduce our carbon emission levels but also provide more comfortable and affordable homes for our residents.”

The Council is continuing to explore future funding opportunities to offer energy efficient measures to more eligible households across the borough.

In addition, the Council’s Green Doctor Scheme is available for residents looking for advice and guidance on energy related matters. The scheme, which is run by the environmental charity Groundwork on behalf of the Council, provides eligible residents with  information on keeping warm and reducing fuel bills as well as installing some small energy efficient measures, such as LED lighting, radiator reflector foils and draught proofing. For more information on the Green Doctor Scheme visit:

Green Doctor webpage.

Everyone can play their part reducing emission use in their homes. Visit:

Energy Saving Trust website 

for tips and ideas on saving energy at home.

Pictured - Resident, Doreen, who has benefitted from energy efficiency improvements to her home.