North West

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Background:

 

NEA established its regional office in the North West in 2006 with the appointment of a Regional Associate, Julia Green.

Over the years NEA has built up a network of contacts within the region and acts as a focus for information on fuel poverty and affordable warmth policy and practice.

Key regional partnerships:

NEA is represented on the Domestic Energy Alliance group overseeing the development and delivery of the North West Low Carbon Housing and Fuel Poverty Activity Plan

Current work programme:

In accordance with NEA’s business plan, NEA continues to expand its work in the region by:

  • Increasing NEA’s involvement at the regional level to promote implementation of the Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy
  • Further development of affordable warmth strategies with local authorities, assisting those with strategies to implement, monitor and review them and helping authorities to move towards the establishment of Warm Zones
  • Expansion of consultancy services for local authorities, housing providers and other organisations
  • Promotion of energy champions
  • Further developing technical projects
  • Continuing a pro-active regional fuel poverty forum

Examples of current policy and practice development activities include: Local Area Agreement consultancy – The Regional Associate is currently working with authorities in Lancashire to help refine LAA targets to reflect fuel poverty/ affordable warmth commitments across the county.

Practical projects:

For an overview of practical projects in the region contact NEA's Regional Associate.

Technical projects:

For an overview of technical projects in the region contact NEA's Regional Associate.

Policy development:

Affordable warmth consultancy

NEA is currently working on the development of an affordable warmth strategy for:

  • Cumbria
  • Lancashire

Regional policy matrix

NEA maintains a regional policy matrix for the nine regions in England, including the North West. The matrix highlights current fuel poverty commitments across a broad range of strategies and allows NEA to monitor the progress of implementation activity. The matrices are reviewed and updated bi-annually, which also provides an opportunity to map progress in commitments at a regional level to meet national fuel poverty targets. For further details contact NEA's Regional Associate.

Regional fuel poverty briefing

NEA has produced a bi-annual regional fuel poverty briefing which aims to highlight the extent of fuel poverty in England and to consider how fuel poverty commitments and activity at a regional level can support national priorities to make affordable warmth a reality for low-income and other vulnerable households.  The briefing builds upon NEA's regional policy matrix which tracks strategic policy commitments within each region as a means of identifying opportunities to promote action on affordable warmth at a regional level.  For further details contact NEA's Regional Associate. See North West Regional Fuel Poverty Briefing.

Forthcoming events:

North West Fuel Poverty Forum

NEA holds regional Fuel Poverty Forums three times per year throughout England and Wales.  The Fuel Poverty Forums are targeted at strategic policy makers and front-line service providers and aim to:

  • Examine policy and practical initiatives related to fuel poverty and delivering energy efficiency solutions at a local, regional and national level
  • Showcase innovation and best practice
  • Promote dialogue and discussion on a wide range of sectoral issues
  • Help NEA shape policy developments and campaigns

See NEA’s Events Diary for forthcoming meetings or contact NEA’s Regional Associate for details.

'Spotlight on fuel poverty' seminars

The seminar will explore opportunites for regional agencies to take a leading role in addressing the fuel poverty challenge via future integrated strategies.  The seminar brings together senior policy makers with representatives from organisations working on the ground to deliver solutions to fuel poverty and will be targeted at representatives from local authorities, community and voluntary sector organisations, the business sector, health sector, regional development agencies and regional agencies/ groups with an interest in energy efficiency and fuel poverty.  For more information on the seminar see NEA Events or contact NEA's Regional Associate.

Contact Details:

For more information on the work of the regional office contact NEA’s Regional Associate, Julia Green on 01457 873 610 or email julia.green@nea.org.uk