A SCHEME to heat up the homes of some of the poorest people in Southampton has been given a near-£100,000 boost.

The Energy Savings Trust charity has donated the cash to the city council's Rewarm Southampton project, which aims to improve energy efficiency in the private rented sector.

New boilers, insulation, draught-proofing and other heat-saving measures will be installed in 128 homes over a three-year period in a bid to improve energy efficiency and cut fuel bills.

A city council survey found tenants living in privately-rented accommodation were spending around ten per cent of their income on fuel bills and were often still unable to heat their homes adequately.

Colin Rowland, environmental health officer, said: "The initiative aims to tackle fuel poverty by giving private-sector tenants on low incomes efficient heating and insulation to make their homes warmer and reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel.

"Lack of efficient heating and adequate insulation is also often associated with ill-health."

The cash from the Energy Savings Trust - £98,250 in total - will provide a combined grant-and-loans pack-age for private-sector landlords with homes on the council's accommodation register.

The scheme is part of the council's longer-term aim to improve energy efficiency in the city by 30 per cent over the next ten years.

Last month, the government announced a £5 million grant to build a new heat-and-power plant near the M27 in Southampton to provide cheaper water and heating bills for council tenants in the Millbrook and Redbridge area. This project will be run by the Southampton Regeneration Board.

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