Mexborough homes to be connected

Tenants and residents living in 100 homes in Mexborough are going to be able to keep their homes warm more easily, thanks to a £177,000 investment into gas installation in the area.

St. Leger Homes of Doncaster in partnership with National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions, a community interest company, are playing a key role in helping to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the Mexborough area by extending the gas mains network.  It means tenants and residents have the opportunity to lower their fuel bills, which in turn helps tackle fuel poverty and makes their homes more energy efficient and greener.

Over £166,000 will be invested by National Grid and a further £11,000 will be invested by St. Leger Homes for the gas installation.

The money will pay for work which will see tenants and residents receive a free gas connection and once this work is completed those in council homes will have new heating systems installed and, where needed, other improvement work through the Decent Homes programme. A further £260,135 will be invested into the 87 council homes involved which will pay for windows, doors, cavity wall and loft insulation and heating systems dependent on individual property needs, as part of the Decent Homes improvement programme.  The Decent Homes programme is being carried out by St Leger Homes of Doncaster on behalf of Doncaster Council.

National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions will also be offering heavily discounted efficient gas heating systems to the 13 private home owners and there is a possibility of extra funding for private properties by Doncaster Council.

Work to start connecting the homes on Arnold Crescent, Eden Terrace, Browning Road, Derwent Terrace and Conway Terrace started in early January. It is hoped they will all be connected to the gas mains by the end of April, depending on the weather conditions.

Cllr Ray Mullis, Doncaster Council’s Cabinet member for housing, said: “This is great news for these tenants and residents in Mexborough. When the gas has been connected home improvement work will also be carried out to the council owned homes”.

Jeremy Nesbitt, Managing Director of National Grid Affordable Warmth Solutions, said “Working together with our partners we are able to connect these homes in Mexborough to the gas network which will mean a hundred homes will benefit from new efficient gas heating systems – a great step forward in increasing energy efficiency and keeping energy affordable”.

Susan Jordan, chief executive of St. Leger Homes of Doncaster, added: “I’m sure the tenants will love having the benefit of gas central heating and together with the improvement work, which if required includes new windows and doors, it will make homes much warmer, greener and more economical”.