Year-long scheme to improve house warmth and efficiency.
A new plan to help Milton Keynes residents improve energy efficiency in their homes has just been launched.
The scheme, from banking giant Santander and Milton Keynes City Council, includes a survey of 500 city residents to identify the barriers they’re facing to improving their home’s fuel efficiency. They also want to create a citizen’s panel to understand what can be done to make homes in Milton Keynes warmer and more effective.
As fuel prices rise, more homeowners are putting energy efficiency at the top of their wish lists – research from Santander found that 52% of UK residents now consider the issue a priority, up from 37% in 2023.
But Santander’s latest ‘Tomorrow’s Homes’ report identifies key barriers preventing people from making improvements – with the upfront cost being the main concern.
The survey – the first of its kind – will be used by MK City Council to shape future sustainability initiatives. It builds on work the council already has underway, including its partnership with MK Community Energy who provide advice for residents.
“We know that many people want to make their homes energy-efficient but face financial and practical barriers,” said Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking.
“By working with Santander, we can better understand these challenges and create real solutions that support local people, to build on and improve existing practical support we offer.
“We're working to make Milton Keynes a world-leading sustainable city and it's partnerships like these that help us achieve our goals and ensure our city continues to go from strength to strength.”
“We designed our own building in Milton Keynes, Unity Place, with sustainability at its heart,” said Fiona Hyde, Head of Sustainability, Santander. “And we’re now looking forward to working with the local council to unpick the struggles faced by residents, and work to find specific ways to address them to support our neighbours.”
