A PROJECT which has helped almost 800 York homes improve their insulation and save massive amounts on their heating bills could be extended.

City of York Council officers are looking into ways of securing regional funding to enhance the Community Energy Saving Programme, which can allow households to shave about £200 a year off their heating costs by providing free loft and cavity wall insulation.

The project, run by the Energy Partnership, the Energy Savings Trust advice centre and the council’s neighbourhood management unit, has been targeted in areas with the highest levels of fuel poverty. So far it has helped 791 homes, meaning a total heating saving of about £160,000 a year.

Officers are now seeking approval to work with the Leeds City Region group of local authorities to develop a bid to the Regional Growth Fund which would allow further work to be carried out.

A report on the scheme will go before Coun Ann Reid, the authority’s executive member for neighbourhoods and housing, next week, and she said: “The scheme has been a big success for both residents and the environment and I am hopeful regional funding can be secured to allow us to help even more residents save on fuel and reduce their CO2 emissions.”