JUST 109 Solihull families have been supported to better insulate their homes under the government’s flagship Green Homes Grant scheme, new figures have revealed.
The scheme was meant to help people upgrade their homes to net-zero standards and cut their energy bills through fitting better insulation or heat pumps, but was scrapped earlier this year after just six months.
However, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show how the scheme has failed families in the local area.
The data shows just 109 energy efficiency measures have been installed in homes in Solihull under the Green Homes Grant scheme. Of these only 56 were for low income households.
Councillor Laura McCarthy, leader of Solihull Lib Dems.
The figures have led the Lib Dems to accuse the government of abandoning families facing soaring energy prices this winter.
The Green Homes Grant was launched in September 2020 promising to upgrade 600,000 homes, with vouchers of up to £10,000 to make homes more energy efficient or replace old boilers.
However it was scrapped just six months later following low take-up and severe mismanagement.
The latest figures reveal that across the country only 39,474 homes have been helped under the scheme.
Applications made before March 2021 are still being processed, but most have now been finalised.
There was also no replacement scheme announced at last week’s Budget.
Laura McCarthy, leader of the Lib Dem group on Solihull Council said: “It is shocking that so few homes in Solihull have been helped through the Green Homes Grant scheme.
“This initiative was meant to help thousands of people make energy efficiency improvements to their homes.
“Instead, families are being abandoned by the government ahead of the cold winter months at a time energy bills are soaring.
“We need to end fuel poverty and make sure that families in Solihull aren’t forced to choose between heating and eating.”
