North East Best Practice Warm Zones Colin White Energy Officer Newcastle City Council
The Warm Zone Approach 5 Pilot Zones launched 2001 across England Each Warm Zone is an independent entity, controlled by a central not-for-profit company (Warm Zones Ltd) Systematic structured street by street assessment A strategic zone approach, allowing more effective ward marketing, targeting & street level participation Multi-disciplinary approach with national and local partners. The co-ordination of different Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency schemes. Delivery driven
Stockton (Transco / BGT) Northumberland (npower) Redcar & Cleveland (Transco / BGT) Newcastle (Transco / Scottish Power) Gateshead (Transco / Scottish Power) Project currently under development Other Zones and Associated Projects Hull (npower) Sandwell (npower) Newham (EDF) East London (EDF) Neath Port Talbot (Transco Warm Wales/npower) Beat the Cold: Stoke/N. Staffs (Renew) Project currently under development North East Warm Zones
Stockton Facts Original pilot zone 2001: 3 year project Stockton on Tees BC area: 73,000 homes 51,000 assessments completed 15,052 homes improved £340,000 in extra benefits delivered The most successful of the 5 pilot models Work continuing in the “Comfort Zone”
Northumberland Facts Original pilot zone 2001: 3 year project Northumberland CC + six 2 nd tier Councils, rural :136,000 homes 67,333 assessments completed at March 05 13,430 homes improved £131,000 in extra benefits delivered Major geographical & partnership challenges Warm Zone work continuing Developing multi-agency approach
Redcar & Cleveland Facts Spin off from Stockton: 2002 for 3 years Redcar & Cleveland BC: 58,000 homes 44,187 assessments completed 12,234 homes improved £749,000 in extra benefits delivered ESF trainee project – Contractor placement Additional measures – Central heating & Solar Water Linkage with separate able to pay scheme Post Warm Zone to be decided
Newcastle Facts Launched 2004: 4 year project Newcastle City Council area: 120,000 homes All tenures including an ‘Able to Pay’ scheme 10,795 completed assessments to March 05 3,539 homes improved to March 05 £260,000 in extra benefits delivered Integrated ESF trainee project
Newcastle Background Multiple funding sources: ScottishPower, Transco, Newcastle City Council, Your Homes Newcastle, NRF, New Deal for Communities, Health Through Warmth, EST, ERDF, + others under progress 30 ‘back-to-work’ ESF trainees employed each year Enhancing & partnering existing projects Benefits checks, claims support advice & home visits Able to pay scheme Central heating grants Health survey Revisiting wards to maximise penetration Expanding partnership remit
Gateshead Developments Prospective new WZ in Gateshead: 2005 Gateshead Council area: 89,727 homes Development by GC, GHC, Transco & WZL Preferred EEC partner (ScottishPower) Business plan for GC approval in May All tenures including ‘Able to Pay’ scheme Target start date: October 2005
Summary LaunchYears Run to date Housing Stock Assessed to date Homes improved* to date Measures* investment to date £ Stockton ,00051,00015,05211,438,000 (Incl. major CH scheme with SBC) Northumberland ,00067,00013,430 3,858,000 Redcar & Cleveland ,00044, 00012,2343,749,492 Newcastle ,00011,0003,5391,060,000 Gateshead (under development) , Totals- Average 4 years 477,000173,00044,25520,105,492 * Note: Improved includes insulation & heating but excludes CFLs
WZs in the NE: Conclusions All NE WZs a major improvement over ‘BAU’ Draws in significant additional funding Able to enhance existing schemes Adaptable to local circumstances Best results where LA /WZ partnership is strong WZ not panacea for Fuel Poverty and HECA Post WZ requires planning WZ principle of structured strategic approach has a significant impact
Warm Zone Contact Details Colin White Newcastle City Council