A total of £1.7m is to be invested in homes across the Falkirk area in attempts to increase energy efficiency. The investment is a joint venture between Falkirk Council and Paragon Housing.

It is understood an additional £700,000 grant from utility firms could help boost the initiative.

More than 1,500 properties in both the private and socially rented sector could benefit from the measures.

Under the overall funding package:

• Up to 55 private homes in rural areas, which are of the gas grid, could benefit from new efficient central heating and insulation.

• Up to 189 private homes and 142 social homes could receive subsidised external wall insulation and 94 high rise properties will also benefit from improvements including insulated over cladding.

-- Advertisement --

• Up to 68 private and 500 council homes will benefit from subsidised cavity and loft insulation.

Councillor Gerry Goldie, Spokesperson for Housing, said: "These schemes will put more money in local residents pockets by cutting fuel bills while also creating employment and reduce the impact hard to heat homes can have on health and wellbeing.

"Our partnership working with Paragon Housing and various utility companies is paying off and will benefit many local people thanks to a range of energy efficiency measures."

Michael Hesketh, Vice Chair of Paragon Housing Association, added: "We are delighted to be involved in this project. This scheme follows on from a successful partnership project last year where the organisations working together secured major investment in energy efficiency measures for over 200 owned and socially rented properties in the district.

"We have received excellent feedback from the first phase of work and we believe that the latest project will deliver real benefits for local people."

(JP/IT)