NORTH WEST

Background:

NEA established its regional office in the North West in 2006 with the appointment of a Regional Associate.

Over the years NEA has built up a network of contacts within the region and acts as a focus for information on fuel poverty and affordable warmth policy and practice.

Key regional partnerships:

• NEA is represented on the Domestic Energy Alliance group overseeing the development and delivery of the North West Low Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Activity Plan

Work programme 2007-2008 – North West

In accordance with NEA’s business plan, NEA continues to expand its work in the region by:

• Increasing NEA’s involvement at the regional level to promote implementation of the Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy
• Further development of affordable warmth strategies with local authorities, assisting those with strategies to implement, monitor and review them and helping authorities to move towards the establishment of Warm Zones
• Expansion of consultancy services for local authorities, housing providers and other organisations
• Promotion of energy champions
• Further developing technical projects
• Continuing a pro-active regional fuel poverty forum

Examples of current policy and practice development activities include: Local Area Agreement consultancy – The Regional Associate is currently working with authorities in Lancashire to help refine LAA targets to reflect fuel poverty/ affordable warmth commitments across the county.

Affordable warmth implementation – NEA is currently working on the development of an affordable warmth strategy for Cumbria

Regional Policy Matrix Development

NEA has received funding to produce a regional policy matrix for the nine regions in England, including the North West.  The matrix will enable affordable warmth initiatives to be most effectively targeted where they will have the greatest impact on policy development and implementation.  This includes both work to deliver affordable warmth where it has already been identified as a priority, and development work to ensure that affordable warmth is given greater emphasis when policies are being developed and reviewed.  The matrices will be reviewed and updated quarterly, which will provide an opportunity to map progress in commitments at a regional level to meet national fuel poverty targets.

Forthcoming events:

North West Fuel Poverty Forum

NEA holds regional Fuel Poverty Forums three times per year throughout England and Wales.  The Fuel Poverty Forums are targeted at strategic policy makers and front-line service providers and aim to:

• Examine policy and practical initiatives related to fuel poverty and delivering energy efficiency solutions at a local, regional and national level
• Showcase innovation and best practice
• Promote dialogue and discussion on a wide range of sectoral issues
• Help NEA shape policy developments and campaigns

See NEA’s Events Diary for forthcoming meetings or contact NEA’s Regional Associate for details.

SEE the Impact Seminars

Following introductory high level policy briefings and presentations at the regional government offices to the major regional stakeholders NEA and regional partners organised a See the Impact seminar for the North West. The seminar brought together senior policy makers with representatives from organisations working on the ground to deliver solutions to fuel poverty and will be targeted at representatives from local authorities, community and voluntary sector organisations, the business sector, health sector, regional development agencies and regional agencies/ groups with an interest in energy efficiency and fuel poverty.  For more information on the outcome of the seminar contact the Regional Co-ordinator.

Contact details

For more information on the work of the regional office contact NEA’s Regional Associate, Julia Green on 01457 873 610 or email julia.green@nea.org.uk

Reviewed: 31/01/2008