Plus Dane has secured over £1 million from the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to improve the energy efficiency of 100 homes across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The money will be invested in a number of improvements such as external wall insulation and loft insulation as well as new and innovative technologies including shared ground loops and ground source heat pumps – all designed to make homes easier and cheaper to heat for customers.

It is estimated that customers could see an average reduction in their heating bills of £315 per year as a result of the initiative. The company has 18,000 homes across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Plus Dane will be investing a further £1.7m to support the project as it works towards meeting national and regional targets to make its homes more energy efficient.

Paul Knight, Chief Operating Officer said:

"This investment comes at a time when many of our customers are struggling to afford to heat their homes so anything that we can do to make it easier for them to stay warm is welcomed.

"We are also excited to be able to begin using some of the new technologies that will be essential to us meeting our carbon reduction targets in the future."

Plus Dane has several properties in Sandbach, including Lightley Court, one of its sheltered schemes, Commons Mill, Greenacres and Union Street plus shared ownership at Gilberts Cross and a mixture of flats, bungalows and houses in Hassall Green.

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, which has responsibilities in relation to social housing in the borough, said:

"Improving housing stock is a key part of our ambition to reduce carbon emissions on our road to becoming a net zero borough by 2045.

"Households across the UK are faced with soaring energy bills. Working with our social housing providers, this funding will be targeted at 162 homes with the poorest energy ratings, helping to make them warmer, more comfortable and reducing both the carbon emissions from housing and, just as importantly, fuel bills too."