Written question WQ86973

There are a number of programmes designed to help improve energy efficiency of homes across Wales, including North Wales. These include the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) and the Warm Homes Programme.

For North Wales landlords (those specifically based in the Local Authority areas of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham) ORP allocations are circa £11,033,009 this financial year. We have also made indicative allocations for 2023/24 and 2024/25 to landlords to enable better planning. Indicative figures for North Wales for those financial years are £12,872,599.

ORP is also supporting Leasing Scheme Wales (LSW) providing access to additional funding for decarbonisation and energy efficiency works. Through connecting the two schemes an additional £5,000 per property is available towards improvements that contribute to moving towards an energy efficiency EPC ‘C’ rating through a fabric first approach.

The Warm Homes Programme is designed to provide support for people most in need. This includes the demand led Nest Scheme, which provides free advice on energy saving measures to all households, and for eligible homes, supports energy efficiency measures which can include a central heating system, Solar PV etc.

From 2009/10 to the end of March 2021, more than £394m has been invested to improve home energy efficiency through the programme, benefitting more than 67,100 lower income households.

From 2011 to the end of March 2021 (the latest available figures), more than 15,000 lower income households in North Wales have benefitted from home energy efficiency measures. These improvements are estimated to have saved households around £300 on their annual energy bills. Alongside this more than 160,800 people have received energy efficiency advice through the Warm Homes Programme since its launch in 2011.