NEA IN THE SOUTH WEST

Background

NEA established its Regional Office in the South West in January 2005.  Emma Quest is the Regional Coordinator.  In 2007 the office moved from Plymouth to Exeter to be more central to the region.

The South West region features a number of challenges in tackling fuel poverty:

• It is the largest of all regions in England comprising Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, the former Avon area and Gloucestershire (Tewkesbury in the north of the region is closer to Scotland than it is to Penzance in the south);
• The region has a large proportion of rural and remote areas that are difficult to reach and have limited access to services;
• On average it has the most energy inefficient housing of all the English regions;
• It has the highest proportion of homes failing the decent homes standard on thermal performance;
• It has a significant level of hard-to-treat properties with over 16% of all properties off the national gas gird; and
• The region has the highest proportion of elderly people in England

Current Work Programme

NEA aims to further develop its work in the South West Region through:

• Continued engagement with regional and sub regional policy makers to ensure that Fuel Poverty remains on the agenda;
• Supporting local partnerships in the development, implementation and monitoring of Affordable Warmth Strategies;
• Project work in partnership with local organisations;
• A proactive Fuel Poverty Forum

NEA's regional office is currently involved in the following activities:

South West Low Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Strategy

The South West Low Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Strategy was formally adopted in early 2007 by the South West Regional Assembly, Regional Development Agency and Government Office for the South West.  Along with other key stakeholders in the region NEA provided input into its development and continues to provide input into its ongoing monitoring.

The headline targets for fuel poverty are in line with Government targets, and for low carbon housing to cut carbon emissions by 17% in 2010, by 30% in 2020, leading to at least a 60% cut by 2050 from a 1990 baseline. The Low Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Strategy and Action Plan can be downloaded from www.oursouthwest.com.

The South West Climate Change Action Plan

Currently under development by the South West Regional Assembly NEA is providing input into its development along with other key stakeholders in the region.

Affordable Warmth Groups

Affordable Warmth Groups bring together key agencies and stakeholders to share ideas and best practice and to develop work programs. Affordable Warmth Groups are active throughout the region and NEA is represented on many of them.

NEA continues to provide support to the development and monitoring of Affordable Warmth Strategies throughout the region.

Devon Affordable Warmth Officer

The Devon Affordable Warmth Officer (DAWO) is a part time post serviced by NEA.  DAWO provides affordable warmth services to the ten district councils and unitary authorities in the County.

Between November 2007 and March 2008 DAWO is coordinating delivery of the Devon Warm Zones project.  The project aims to substantially reduce fuel poverty  designated Warm Zones in each District of the County.  From April 2008 small areas will one by one be targeted with marketing and awareness raising to increase uptake of free or subsidised insulation and heating measures.  The project will roll out over each of the designated Warm Zones over a period of three years.

Energising Housing Associations to Achieve Affordable Warmth

NEA is working with funding from the Housing Corporation’s Innovation and Good Practice Fund to help social housing providers throughout the region to tackle affordable warmth amongst their tenants.  The funding is providing free training to housing association staff up to City and Guilds level, the development of resources for both Housing Associations and tenants, a region wide conference focusing on energy issues and ongoing mentoring for staff who undertook the training.

SW HECA Secretariat

NEA provides secretariat services to the South West HECA, a network of Home Energy officers from across the region. NEA attends to the formalities of meetings of the executive committee and arranges the quarterly meeting of Home Energy Officers.

Supporting Disabled People to Achieve Affordable Warmth

This project is being run from NEA’s London office in partnership with Living Options Devon, a charity committed to assisting people with disabilities to play and equal and active part in society. The project aims to establish whether disabled people need additional assistance to cope with rapidly increasing gas and electricity bills.

South 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 future Forum dates.

Contact Details:

For more information on NEA’s current activities in the South West please contact Emma Quest, Regional Co-ordinator South West on 01752 306 530 or email emma.quest@nea.org.uk

Reviewed: 24/07/2008