LOW-income households in Keighley will be the first in the district to benefit from a scheme that could slash fuel bills.

The initiative will fund insulation for homes, boosting their energy efficiency.

Bradford Council is to receive a share of £52.67 million of regional funding for the venture.

It forms part of phase two of the so-called Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme, provided by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

The grants programme in the Bradford district will focus on delivering ‘Room in the Roof’ insulation measures, initially targeting eligible households in central Keighley.

Properties will be assessed to ensure they are suitable for the work to be carried out and residents would need to meet the Government’s eligibility criteria, which includes a total combined annual income of less than £30,000.

On average, the Room in the Roof insulation measure will reduce a household’s annual energy bills by £482.26 at current prices. And there will be lifetime carbon savings of 75.26 tonnes per property.

Bradford Council says the measures will only be available for households that have not previously received Green Homes grant vouchers or benefited from the first phase of the scheme.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the council’s portfolio holder for healthy people and places, said: “We’re pleased to now be in a position to make a start on this great scheme, that will help people save money on their bills and reduce their carbon emissions.

“According to research, homes in the UK contribute to 20 per cent of its carbon emissions, but reducing a home’s emissions is a costly undertaking.

“This scheme will support people to have changes made to their homes to make a difference.”

Under the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme, local authorities in England – individually or as part of a consortium bid with other authorities or partners – can submit bids for funding to improve the energy efficiency of properties of low-income households in their areas.

The £500 million scheme was launched in August last year and is being delivered in three phases. The Government says the programme is tackling fuel poverty and creating ‘green’ jobs.