Council bids for £1.8m grant to cut energy bills

The grant aims to help Runnymede residents cut energy bills

More than 180 council tenants could have new insulation and solar panels installed if a £1.8m funding bid is successful, a local authority has said.

Runnymede Borough Council said its "ambitious" plan to help residents reduce utility bills was its largest grant application in recent times.

The authority is applying to the government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's (DESNZ) Warm Homes Fund for the money.

It said it would contribute a similar amount of the council's own funds to "enable a greater number of homes to benefit".

Councillor Mike Smith, chair of the council's housing committee, said the grant bid was a practical example of the council doing what it could to help residents cut their costs, while also helping to reduce the impact on the environment.

He said: "The amount of money we are applying for is substantial, and it really demonstrates the scale of our ambition to help local people reduce how much they have to pay to the big energy companies.

"The environmental benefits are an equally valuable investment in our futures."

A decision by DESNZ is expected in the near future.

The authority is already installing similar energy efficiency measures at 169 council homes after receiving a separate £1.25m grant from DESNZ last year.

The works began in December and the council also contributed towards the project.