A Bradford estate is to become the first in the country to benefit from a scheme to make homes greener.

Hundreds of residents in Parkside, West Bowling, have signed up to the Government’s Green Deal – announced this week to help people ‘stay warm for less’.

Households can fund improvements such as insulation, heating systems and double glazing using loans paid back over periods of up to 25 years through savings made on their bills.

Parkside Residents’ Association discussed the advantages of the scheme for the homes which were built in the 1950s using poured concrete and have no cavity walls and so suffer from condensation. A pilot project began last year and now work to transform the estate has begun.

“Parkside is going to be the first Green Deal estate in the country,” said association chairman Yassar Taj, whose home was the first to benefit as part of the pilot scheme.

“We are trying to do this as a community rather than individuals, so we get a good deal.

“In my home the walls lost so much heat and on some we couldn’t put up units due to the amount of moisture. Wallpaper was peeling off too, and mould brings health risks.”

Since the work, which involved cladding and rendering outside walls, his home has been warmer and he is using less energy to heat it.

Mr Taj said: “It has made a real difference. Normally, we have our heating thermostat on seven, but now we have it on three or four. We are all now looking forward to having cosier homes.”

The majority of those living on the 400-home estate have signed up, as have those in some adjacent terraced homes.

James Kahn, of the Leeds-based Green Deal Warehouse which is carrying out the work, said: “It will save energy and bring jobs to the region, as we have work which will last years.”