All Council Homes in Gateshead to Have Double Glazing

Posted under Blog by Ruth

Councillors in Gateshead have recently made a promise to their residents of ‘draught-free windows for all’ by installing new windows in all council homes.

The programme means that all homes owned by Gateshead council will eventually include double glazing.

Improvements have already been made to over 10,000 properties in the area to help bring them up to the ‘Decent Homes’ standard. This means that 80% of all properties are already enjoying double glazing. For the remaining 20% of properties, double glazing is still planned.

The new windows have proved popular with tenants who have stated that their homes are less draughty. Double glazing also means that the properties will be more secure and naturally warmer. This also means that future maintenance costs will be lowered.

Councillor Angela Armstrong said that ‘this is great news for Gateshead’s tenants’. Armstrong added: ‘this is not just about a window’s appearance. Everyone knows about the substantial energy savings that can be derived by fitting double glazed windows’. It is thought that the plans will help to tackle fuel poverty and the carbon footprint of Gateshead as a whole.

Chief Executive of the Gateshead Housing Company, Bill Fullen, said ‘this additional work to replace windows is excellent news for our 21,000 customers’.

Those homes that do not yet have double glazed windows will see their windows replaced during the new financial year from 2010-11 and 2011-12. Annual revenue saved on maintenance as a result of this scheme will mean annual savings of £400,000.