The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has unveiled a new £20m Green Deal Communities scheme to help local authorities drive street-by-street delivery of the Green Deal.
Announced on 25 July, the new proposals mean that local authorities in England will be able to bid for funding from a £20 million pot to help households benefit from the Green Deal on a street-by-street or area basis.
Local authorities will identify target streets and areas that could most benefit from the Green Deal and then offer incentives to households in these areas to encourage them to install energy efficiency home improvements under the Green Deal. Local authorities will propose incentives as part of their bids for funding, which will be assessed by DECC.
Greg Barker, Energy and Climate Change Minister, said: 'If we are going to deliver the Green Deal at real scale then we need a 'street-by-street' vision and a 'street-by-street' plan! However, local authorities really know their areas best. They know which streets and properties could most benefit from a Green Deal to improve their energy efficiency, and what local people need to provide them with a greater choice.'
He continued: 'The Coalition is committed to helping hard pressed consumers and this £20 million funding will help more families benefit from the Green Deal, making homes warmer and more efficient, and protecting consumers against rising energy bills.'
Green Deal Communities will support local authorities, in partnership with local community organisations and businesses, to encourage take up of the Green Deal and other energy efficiency improvements in whole streets and areas throughout the UK. Funding will only support those households using Green Deal finance or self-financing to install Green Deal measures.
To allow the development of strong bids local authorities will be able to bid up to 31 December 2013 or until the funds are exhausted.
DECC has already injected £23 million of funding for core cities and local authorities to kick-start the Green Deal. On 25 July a £200 million energy efficiency scheme for homes in the North East - Warm Up North - was announced by Newcastle City Council. The initiative could benefit up to 50,000 households and businesses in the North East.
The Government has also confirmed the establishment of a Green Deal Provider Forum to look at ways of supporting and enhancing the Green Deal and the energy efficiency retrofit sector. The forum will be chaired by Ian Cheshire, Group ceo of Kingfisher. It will include senior representatives from the Green Deal Provider community and broader retrofit industry, with support provided by the Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body.
