Amanda Martin MP has visited homes in Paulsgrove to see first-hand how the Government’s Warm Homes Plan is helping local residents stay warmer, cut their energy bills and improve their quality of life.
Joined by retrofit specialists Aura Retrofit, Amanda met residents who have benefited from government-backed energy efficiency upgrades, including insulation, solar panels and air source heat pumps. The improvements are designed to make homes more comfortable, reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels and help households manage the cost of living.
The visit comes as the Government publishes its Seventh Carbon Budget and new analysis from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) showing that the UK’s net zero economy now supports more than one million jobs and contributes £105 billion to the economy.
During the visit, Amanda heard directly from local residents about the difference the upgrades have made to their lives.
One household, Katie and Arthur, had been living without central heating and relied on inefficient gas fires and portable heaters to keep warm. Following support through the Warm Homes Plan, their home received a new air source heat pump and modern radiators, creating a warmer and more comfortable living environment while reducing energy costs.
Amanda also met Jacqui, a retired Stagecoach bus driver, whose home benefited from insulation upgrades, improved ventilation, solar panels and a heat pump. The improvements have helped lower her bills and made her home significantly warmer throughout the year.
A third resident, Jacqueline, explained how living in a cold property had worsened her Raynaud’s condition. Following a full retrofit package, she described her home as “unrecognisable”, with the additional warmth helping to improve her health and wellbeing as she approaches retirement.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “Meeting residents in Paulsgrove and hearing their stories brought home exactly why the Warm Homes Plan matters. These are not just energy upgrades, they are life-changing improvements that help people stay warm, healthy and financially secure.
“For too long, families have been exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices that are beyond our control. By improving the energy efficiency of homes and investing in clean, homegrown energy, we can cut bills, strengthen our energy security and improve living standards.
“The Government’s Warm Homes Plan is delivering real results here in Portsmouth North. Residents are seeing warmer homes, lower energy costs and better health outcomes, while our wider clean energy mission is creating jobs and growing the economy.
“As we face the second fossil fuel shock of this decade, the lesson is clear: the best way to protect households and businesses is through clean power that we generate here in Britain. That means investing in the future, backing good jobs, and ensuring families are not left at the mercy of international energy markets.”
The Warm Homes Plan forms a key part of the Government’s mission to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and improve housing quality, helping ensure that communities such as Paulsgrove can benefit from the transition to clean energy while lowering costs and improving everyday life.
