Preston families warmer this winter thanks to affordable warmth funding

13 July 2023

When money was allocated from Lancashire County Council Public Health's £1m affordable warmth fund to all the Lancashire districts, Preston City Council were able to help vulnerable residents and use some of the funding to roll out a range of affordable warmth improvements.

In the interests of spending the funding efficiently, quickly and appropriately, the Council decided to use an approved partner, Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL), along with trusted installers.

The quick turnaround by CHiL in processing applications and surveying the properties meant that all the funding allocated for Preston's households was spent in only a six-month period, a total of £186,000.

Works carried out ranged from new heating systems, heating repairs and SMART controls, solar heating and some new doors and windows where these were particularly old and energy inefficient.

Families were also cross referred with the team dealing with applications for Household Support Fund (HSF) to maximise support for the most vulnerable in Preston.

It's important to note that none of the households helped were eligible for any other government funded schemes that CHiL are running, so if this affordable warmth funding wasn't available, households would not have had any improvements carried out.

Councillor Jennifer Mein, Cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Preston City Council, said:

"This is a fantastic example of our partnership working and being able to mobilise quickly to get the money spent where it was very much needed.

"We are also pleased that we've been able to spend our full allocation for Preston through the Cosy Homes scheme and have been successful in securing and spending additional funding for the benefit of our poorer households.

"In the current economic climate, it's satisfying to know that an additional 73 Preston households on low incomes or with chronic health conditions will be warmer this winter now these energy efficiency measures are in place. Not only does this tackle fuel poverty but it also helps reduce carbon emissions."

County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, added:

"We know that living in a cold home can have a number of negative impacts on people's health and wellbeing.

"And we know that low incomes, high fuel costs and a lack of energy efficiency can all increase the risks of living in a cold home.

"This is why we made the £1 million of funding available, to benefit local residents.

"Lancashire County Council's Affordable Warmth fund provides vital support to Lancashire households and I'm pleased to see that districts are utilising the funding as quickly and as appropriately as possible."

More information

• More information on energy efficiency can be found on the City Council's website.
• A total of 73 households, compromising of 153 people, were assisted. All the households were experiencing low incomes or also had a range of health conditions or children under five - all groups known to be disproportionately affected by cold homes and subsequently higher levels of fuel poverty.
• Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.