Around 1,400 low-income households in Kent and Medway will receive free energy saving installations to help bring down the cost of their energy bills.

An initial £12 million worth of funding will see homes in seven pilot areas of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, Swale, Thanet and Buckland/ Tower Hamlets and Aylesham in Dover retrofitted in the next 12 to 18 months. This includes measures such as wall insulation, loft insulation, new boilers and heating systems.

The news comes at a time when people have been struggling to keep their homes warm in the winter months as energy prices keep rising.

Councillor Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “Rising fuel bills are a real issue for many residents in Medway so this programme of energy-saving measures will be a welcome relief to many householders who are looking at ways to bring down their energy costs. I’m pleased Medway has been selected to benefit from this project.”

If the project is successful, it could be rolled out to more than 5,000 homes, with the potential for up to £80 million of funding across the next two years.

The Kent and Medway Green Deal Partnership is working with Enterprise and npower to deliver an ECO (Energy Company Obligation) retrofit’ project. As set out by the Government, energy firms have a legal obligation to promote measures that improve domestic energy efficiency, reduce emissions and cut the costs for households.