OTLEY homes are to benefit from a £2.9 million scheme to boost energy efficiency.

Leeds City Council has secured the funding to provide targeted improvements including cavity wall insulation and air source heat pumps in areas with high levels of fuel poverty and inefficient homes.

The work, funded by a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy grant, is expected to save 385 private and council-owned households an average of £366 on their fuel bills - and cut the city’s annual carbon footprint by 518 tonnes.

A number of homes on Otley’s Weston estate are among those set to benefit, along with properties in Swarcliffe, Seacroft and the Bodmin estate in Middleton.

Separately to the council’s work, homeowners across Leeds are also being encouraged to check their eligibility for discounted energy efficiency measures as part of the Government’s Green Homes Grant voucher scheme.

Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities, Councillor Debra Coupar, said: “It’s fantastic that Leeds has secured new funding to help hundreds of residents experiencing fuel poverty to save money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.

“While the council’s scheme will be ringfenced to help those who need it most, I’d encourage all residents to check their eligibility for the national voucher scheme.

“These improvements are particularly important when household incomes are under increased pressure due to the ongoing pandemic. The scheme will make it more affordable for people to keep warm in their homes.”

Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said: “I welcome this new funding that will help the council accelerate our existing work to improve the energy efficiency of housing in Leeds and reduce our impact on the environment.

“Around a quarter of the city’s carbon footprint comes from the energy used to heat homes, partly because too many residents live in properties that do not effectively retain heat and are forced to pay too much to stay warm.”

Eligible residents will be contacted directly by Leeds City Council and their contractor, Better Homes Yorkshire. Further details can be found at www.betterhomesyorkshire.co.uk