LOW-INCOME households across Dorset are set to benefit from a multi-million pound pot of funding awarded to Dorset Council and BCP Council.

The two local authorities, joined with Public Health Dorset, have received £4.3million to upgrade homes with energy efficient measures in a bid to reduce bills.

It will enable energy-saving measures in low income households across the county ranging from loft insulation to the installation of new windows.

The money - £4,343,000 - comes from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Stategy's Home Upgrade Grant Scheme which has allocated £158 million to local authorities across the south west.

Councillor Mike Green, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for finance, net zero and transport, said: “We have been trailblazers in this - we have the most generous scheme in the country for those who wouldn’t qualify for the usual government grants for energy improvement.

“It’s great news - we’re talking about more than £4million to improve energy efficiency and it comes at a time where we’re all thinking about saving money as well as doing what is right for the environment."

Cllr Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Dorset Council's cabinet lead for environment, travel and harbours, said the local authority was 'delighted' to have been awarded the money. She said the funds would be used in the Healthy Homes Dorset programme to provide low-carbon heating to low-income households.

Cllr Lacey-Clarke said: "Dorset has many low income households, as well as large rural communities that do not have access to gas, often leading to higher bills than those connected to the grid. Considering the current cost-of-living crisis and our collective long-term ambition to reduce our carbon footprint to net zero, the Home Upgrade Grant will help us save our residents money via their energy bills, as well as help preserve our natural environment by using less resources."

Announcing the measures, the Government department said the grants formed part of a total package worth £1.4billion.

Vulnerable households and off-gas grid homes with an EPC rating of D or below could save tenants between £220 and £400 a year on energy bills.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, said: "Thousands of homes across the South West will benefit from this cash injection, boosting their energy efficiency so they stay warmer for longer, and at a cheaper cost.

"The UK is truly a world-leader when it comes to reducing carbon emissions and the progress we've made over the last decade has been remarkable. But we can't rest on our laurels and must continue to drive forward progress, setting a standard for other countries to follow."