Poorer neighbourhoods will be worse off under plans to slash subsidies for small scale solar power projects. This is the view of the National Housing Federation (NHF), which is worried that policy changes could affect tenants two-fold.

Chair of the housing association trade body, Matthew Taylor, is so concerned that he has written to ministers requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the subsidy cuts.

Yesterday the energy department proposed halving the Feed in Tariff (FiTS) subsidy for solar projects under 4kW in size. DECC also plans to introduce a minimum level of energy efficiency that properties must meet to be eligible for the tariff.

In the letter to ministers, Mr Taylor warns that on top of making large solar schemes in poorer neighbourhoods financially unviable, the change would also see millions of tenants miss out on cheaper energy deals despite paying a surcharge on their energy bills for the Government-funded scheme.

The Federation says it will be working with policy makers during the consultation period to ensure that housing associations and tenants can benefit from FiTs.