Tenants are promised warmer homes and cheaper fuel bills

The 64 properties in Meadowcroft Mews, Spinneyfield Court and Copperfield Place in Richmond Hill are currently without a mains gas supply, relying instead on electric storage heaters.

Housing association Guinness Northern Counties is joining forces with Northern Gas Networks and Community Energy Solutions (CES) to replace the heating systems.

Northern Gas Networks and CES have just begun work on the first stage of the project - extending the gas mains network to homes on the three roads.

The project is being funded by Northern Gas Networks as part of its on-going programme to tackle fuel poverty across the North East, most of Yorkshire and northern Cumbria.

Kevin Drake of Northern Gas Networks, said: “We are committed to bringing affordable warmth to communities and individuals affected by fuel poverty across our network area.

“Funding projects like this one in Leeds are a vital part of ensuring homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty are given access to the mains gas network and can benefit from a cheaper and more reliable energy source in the future.”

Once gas infrastructure works have been completed Guinness Northern Counties will replace the existing electric storage heaters in all 64 properties with new gas central heating systems, which can offer more affordable warmth for tenants, and helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Similar schemes have been completed in Hull and Wakefield.