Plans for new heating system in Rattray housing estate

Jun 11 2009 by Les Stewart, Blairgowrie Advertiser

FUEL bills for tenants on a Rattray housing estate could drop if an extension to the gas network is approved by the council.

This week, the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee will consider proposals to supply gas, and therefore a choice in heating options, to 150 council houses on the Ferguson Park estate.

The houses, built in the 1960s, were highlighted in a 2005 survey as difficult to heat on account of their type of construction.

They are currently heated by electric storage systems which were installed as part of an upgrade around 1989.

The proposals to committee, which also include improving insulation in the houses, have been developed in response to the survey findings.

They would bring the properties to the heating standards set down by the Scottish Housing Quality Standards, which all councils must meet across their housing stock by 2015.

The proposals are also intended to address tenants' concerns about heating costs, condensation and damp.

Councillor Ian Miller, convener of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said: “This council is committed to providing our tenants with good quality homes.

“We are also committed to taking action to help residents in these difficult economic times.

“I am confident that these proposals will contribute to both these aims. I therefore welcome this report coming before committee.”

If approved, the Ferguson Park scheme will become the first major project of its kind in Scotland to benefit from the Fuel Poverty Discount Scheme available through Scotia Gas Networks (SGN).

SGN owns and operates the gas distribution network throughout Scotland.

The council worked closely with SGN in developing the proposals, and has secured subsidies and grants from both SGN and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target Scheme to make the project possible.

The £500,000 cost of the project will be reduced by these subsidies to an actual cost to the council of £105,000.

Councillor Miller added: “Finding a way to bring affordable energy to tenants of Ferguson Park has been a long-standing priority for the council.

“A great deal of work has been done to assess the best option for residents. I am delighted that, by becoming the first local authority in Scotland to secure a fuel poverty voucher, we now have the opportunity to give our tenants in Ferguson Park the heating option they want.”

If approved, work on the project will begin in August this year.