Manchester City Council has revealed its plans to bid for funds designed to help those living in Victorian properties save on fuel bills.

Almost half of all Manchester's housing stock was built before 1919 meaning that it is of solid wall construction - cavity wall insulation cannot be used.

Last week the government announced a £910 million package towards tackling the rising cost of fuel, giving added impetus to the City Council's proposals and increasing funding opportunities.


The City Council is proposing to bid for a pilot project where terraced homes would be fitted with solid wall insulation. It would see special insulation being fixed to the outside rear of the property then rendered to blend in.

Combined with other energy saving measures, the solid wall insulation could help to significantly reduce fuel bills by hundreds of pounds.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Executive Member for the Environment with Manchester City Council said: "We will be contacting the Prime Minister, to tell him about our proposed project. We would like funding for a scheme like this, which would help households save hundreds of pounds each year, as well as helping the environment."

(CD/JM)