RESIDENTS living in selected Thurrock Council properties are set to benefit from almost £4 million of funding to help keep council homes warm and reduce energy bills. 

The Department of Net Zero and Energy Security has the ouncil £3,982,476.19 to improve the energy efficiency of more than 200 council properties. 

The funding; which has been awarded through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund: Wave 2.2, will be used to ensure that 206 council properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of E or lower will be upgraded to an EPC of C or higher. 

Thurrock Council will be co-funding the delivery of the project with a contribution of £844,505.93. 

Cllr Barry Johnson, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Housing said: "Everyone should have a good quality and safe place to live. 

"Improving the energy efficiency of social housing in the borough will not only help us to lower our carbon footprint but it will also ensure that it costs our council tenants less to heat their home. 

"We look forward to successfully delivering this project as part of our continued efforts to invest in council properties to make sure all our residents have access to good quality homes."