Solar panels plan for thousands of council homes

HomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of the Earth EarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersSolar panels plan for thousands of council homes17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleOlivia HiskettYorkshireNiall Carson/Press AssociationSolar panels and better insulation could be installed on thousands of council-owned homes in SheffieldPlans to improve the energy efficiency of almost 10,000 council-owned homes in Sheffield and lower fuel bills by 2030 are to be considered.

A combination of better insulation and solar panels would be installed in as many as 9,850 homes, if the proposals, which are expected to cost £29.6m, are approved by Sheffield City Council.

The programme, which the authority said could see tenants' bills lowered by £250 a year, would also help cut emissions and improve health across the city, according to the council.

Douglas Johnson, chair of the housing policy committee, said: "We want to deliver lasting improvements that make a real difference to tenants' household finances, health and quality of life."

"Energy bills continue to be a significant concern for many households, and these proposals could put around £250 a year back into the pockets of each household benefiting from the programme," he added.

"We want to make thousands of council homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable."

As many as 5,250 homes could receive solar panels and batteries using third-party investment, with 4,000 homes set to see fabric improvements such as better insulation, a council spokesperson said.

If successfully delivered, the programme was estimated to save tenants collectively between £2.4m and £3.5m on their fuel bills every year, they said.

Those figures were "strategic estimates" based on national evidence and current assumptions about Sheffield's housing stock, according to the council.

The plan would help the authority meet the government requirement that all social housing meets Energy Performance Certificate Band C by April 2030, the spokesperson said.

Energy regulator Ofgem increased the price cap by 4% this month, raising energy prices for millions of households across the UK.

The plans are due to be considered by Sheffield City Council's housing policy committee at a meeting on Thursday.

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