Nearly £1.4 million is being provided to boost a housing energy efficiency project in Renfrewshire.

Over 170 homes will benefit from the investment, which is part of an existing programme to deliver external wall insulation in Paisley's Gallowhill area.

In addition, new external wall insulation projects will be carried out for homes in Johnstone, Kilbarchan, Renfrew and Bridge of Weir.

The funding, which will see the 1,000th home covered as part of the programme, is made up from more than £760,000 provided through the Scottish Government's Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland: Area-Based Scheme (HEEPS:ABS), as well as £481,000 of council money and £125,000 of external funding.

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The project is part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme which requires energy suppliers to provide energy-efficiency measures to people living in hard-to-heat homes and lower-income and vulnerable households. Overall, the scheme will cut greenhouse gas emissions and save money on heating bills.

Councillor Tommy Williams said: "People living in well-insulated homes will be able to save money and this funding means we can support them to do that. It will allow us to complete the work in Gallowhill, which has been a major regeneration project aimed at supporting households at risk of fuel poverty.

"At the same time, the latest money will be used to ensure residents in other areas of Renfrewshire will be able to save money on their fuel bills too.

"That sits alongside the energy advice work being done by the council's Tackling Poverty Programme, where our energy advocates have put more than £270,000 into the pockets of residents through almost 1,000 home visits since last summer."

(LM)