Homes in the district to benefit from £8m energy efficiency boost

The energy efficiency of hundreds of council homes will be dramatically boosted after Canterbury City Council was awarded £6.6m through the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund – the biggest payout in Kent.

The money will add to the £11.25m the council has put aside in its Housing Revenue Account capital budget over the next three years.

The money will be used to insulate homes and install high-performance windows and doors to keep in the heat and to replace or upgrade heating systems.

The measures chosen in each property included in the project will be individually-tailored based on assessments which are already underway.

Welcoming the cash from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ), Cllr Pip Hazelton, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “This huge investment in our council homes will add immeasurably to the quality of life for those people living there.

“With much less energy wasted, their homes will be warmer and, importantly, their gas and electricity bills will fall meaning they have more money in their pockets.”

Now the size of the grant has been confirmed by the government, officers are working on a detailed plan for delivering the work.

On top of this money, the council was also awarded £1.5m as part of the government’s Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.

This pot of money is aimed at people on low incomes in privately owned or rented homes whose Energy Performance Certificate is between D and G.

It could pay for insulation, solar panels or even air source heat pumps.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Mel Dawkins, said: “More than £8m in government money dedicated to making people’s homes more energy efficient, less carbon hungry and cheaper to run has to be embraced.

“It represents a significant step on our journey to creating a net zero district for everyone.

“But this is where the hard work begins – our plans added to the money received now needs to turn into action on the ground.”

Arrangements are currently being put in place to administer the Warm Homes: Local Grants scheme and the council will publicise the fact applications are open.

Published: 20 March 2025