With a £25 million energy efficiency improvements scheme in place, numerous council flats in Leeds are set for a future focused on cutting carbon emissions and saving money.

Energy and regeneration specialist Equans began work in late 2022 on the transformation of seven tower blocks as part of Leeds City Council's drive to deliver high-quality homes while also tackling fuel poverty and the climate emergency.

Residents are now benefiting from the improvements, which have been completed at six of the blocks – Parkway Court, Parkway Grange and Parkway Towers in Seacroft and Lovell Park Grange, Lovell Park Heights and Lovell Park Towers in Little London.

The work – which has included the reroofing of buildings and the installation of new external wall insulation and ventilation systems – will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat individual flats.

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This in turn will allow residents in the 600-plus flats across the seven blocks to enjoy cheaper fuel bills while also cutting the city's carbon emissions.

The average annual energy costs for each flat are expected to halve, while the amount of CO2 being produced by the average property is predicted to drop by around a third.

The external appearance of the tower blocks has also been enhanced with the addition of new rendering and fittings.

Work at the seventh block, Moor Grange Court in West Park, is due to finish in the next few months.

The scheme as a whole received £9.6m from central government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, with the rest of the cost being met by the council.

It forms part of a wider £100m programme of council-led work across Leeds, with large numbers of buildings having already received or due to receive energy-saving upgrades to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and combat fuel poverty.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: "Reducing Leeds's carbon footprint is a priority for the council, but it’s important that this is done in a fair way that also helps improve standards of living in all our local communities.

"The benefits of such an approach are perfectly demonstrated by the changes at these flats in Seacroft, Little London and West Park, where emissions and energy bills are both set to be significantly reduced.

"The scheme is also testament to the power of partnership working, with Equans playing a vital role alongside the council in bringing about a bright new era for the properties and everyone living there."