Lancaster City Council plans to install solar panels on 35 sheltered bungalows, saving 35 tonnes of CO2 a year

The city council's cabinet will decide next week whether to authorise officers to redirect funds to procure and award a contract for the installation of solar PV panels to 35 sheltered bungalows, which is estimated to deliver a CO2 saving of 35 tonnes per year.

The location of the works will be Morley Close and Priory Close in the Vale area of the city.

A report to cabinet said: "The installation of solar PV panels is one of a range of measures designed to improve the thermal comfort of homes, lower customers energy bills and reduce the impact of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and thus increasing the overall EPC rating of these properties.

"A further benefit of this will be a reduction in energy bills for residents in our sheltered bungalows, which will create co-benefits that will support health and wellbeing."

The council estimates that residents included in the programme could see a reduction in their energy bills ranging from £141 to £993, depending on the property type, over a three year period.

Occupiers of each property will also receive free LED lighting.

In terms of the funding, officers said: "The HRA (Housing Revenue Account) capital programme includes £120,000 for Whole House Refurbishment within this financial year.

"Redirection of this amount to Carbon Zero Plus measures, for which the programme already includes provision of £70,000, will allow for the required £175,000 to undertake the installation of Solar PV panels on 35 sheltered scheme properties.

"The use of virements to realign or refocus existing funds from one expenditure head to another is permitted subject to the limits set out in the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

"The value requested does not require full cabinet approval under the council’s existing virement policy.

"However, current COVID delegations require the new or recommencement of capital projects to be approved by cabinet irrespective of the financial level and so for clarity approval by full cabinet is sought for both expenditure and funding reallocation."