Burnley: scheme to tackle fuel poverty and energy inefficiency unlocks huge investment

helping our community

  • 79 homes in Barnes Court to be connected to gas grid and modern, efficient heating
  • Gas network Cadent invests £130,000 and Housing 21 a further £404,000
  • Latest project in national, multi-million-pound scheme to tackle energy inefficiency and reduce the cost of maintaining a warm home
Over half-a-million pounds is being invested to connect 79 retirement homes in Burnley to the gas grid and provide residents with modern, efficient heating systems.
 
Existing old, inefficient electric heaters are set to be a thing of the past as properties in Barnes Court become the latest to benefit from a national scheme to tackle fuel poverty.
 
Gas network Cadent is investing £130,000 to install – via its partner Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS) – a new underground gas main and connect each home to gas for the first time.
 
Housing 21, which manages the homes, is investing £50,000 towards that work, plus £354,000 to fund energy-efficient boilers, radiators and associated internal pipework.
 
There is no cost to residents.
 
The work to install the new main started on Monday 6 January and will take around six weeks to complete. Housing 21 will then work with the residents to programme the installation of each home’s new gas heating systems.
 
This is all part of a scheme delivered by AWS for Cadent, as part of the gas network’s commitment to support the connection of thousands of homes classed as fuel poor.
 
Eighty-one similar projects helped support 4,608 homes in 2018/2019 alone, through a total of £5.1m invested by Cadent and a further £13m by partner organisations, such as local authorities and housing associations.
 
Jenny Moten, Director of Cadent’s North West Network, said: “Those of us connected to the gas grid generally take it for granted that we are, enjoying the benefits of reliable, affordable heating.
 
“Having a home that’s warm, and reliably so, and without it costing an absolute fortune, makes such a huge difference in financial terms, but also to your health and wellbeing.
 
“Since 2013, we’ve helped support many thousands of fuel poor homes, in many cases having a life-changing impact on the people who live in them.
 
“Our investment here in Barnes Court is fantastically supported with considerable investment too by Housing 21. It all means that the residents will soon be able to enjoy modern, safe, reliable, efficient heating, all year round.”
 
Chris Priestley, Building Surveyor at Housing 21, said: “As an organisation we are committed to providing quality homes for our residents.
 
“Investing over £400,000 in energy-efficient boilers and radiators at Barnes Court concludes the programme of the gas switching works, which has seen electric storage heating replaced by gas central heating in over 55 courts nationally.
 
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint, improve energy ratings in our properties and reduce fuel costs for our residents.”
 
Jeremy Nesbitt, Managing Director of AWS, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Cadent and Housing 21 to deliver this exciting scheme for the residents of Barnes Court. Replacing old, outdated electric heating systems with an efficient and economic gas one will really make a positive difference to the lives of the residents.”
 
Cadent is the UK’s biggest gas network. It manages a huge network of more than 80,000 miles of underground gas mains and above-ground stations, which deliver gas to more than 11 million properties connected to the grid. Its area of operations extends from the Lake District to London.

What is fuel poverty?

In England, a household is considered to be fuel poor if
  • they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level)
  • were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line
According to gov.uk, there are three important elements when determining whether a household is fuel poor:
  • household income
  • household energy requirements
  • fuel prices

Cadent

Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy.  We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change.  Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency.   Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to North London and the Welsh Borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing. 

Future of Gas: Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach Net Zero by 2050. That means we’re backing the introduction of hydrogen as a low carbon alternative to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower carbon alternative offered by hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.

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Media contacts

Kevin Hegarty

kevin.hegarty@cadentgas.com

07970 694897