Northeast councils team up for £200m home improvement scheme

The scheme is aiming to improving the energy efficiency of as many as 50,000 homes.

Local small to medium-sized companies will be identified as contractors to complete the installation work, which will include insulation and boiler repairs/replacements.

Based in Newcastle, the Warm Up North scheme is described as the largest and most advanced regional response to the government’s Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO).

The Warm Up North partnership comprises of nine local authorities: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Newcastle, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside and Sunderland and is supported by the Association of North East Councils (ANEC).

Jon Kershaw, head of Warm Up North, said: “We are committed to helping those most in need across the North East heat their homes for less; a lot of people who are struggling to heat their homes may not even realise the difference that making small changes can make, for example, just insulating a loft could save up to £145 a year on heating bills.

“We are also helping to create high quality new jobs throughout the region providing apprenticeships, training and skills opportunities, focusing especially on helping long-term unemployed and young people not in education, employment or training.”

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