Key Energy Minister visits Saltaire to see innovative local listed homes upgrade project
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
A key government energy minister visited the Saltaire World Heritage Site on Thursday to meet with residents and learn how local organisations are retrofitting listed homes to enhance their energy efficiency.
Martin McCluskey, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers, was joined by Anna Dixon, the village's local MP, as they met with Andrew Gardner, Director of Above Ground, and Jamie Keats, Director of Wrapt Homes, to discuss the Saltaire Retrofit Reimagined project. The initiative aims to help residents of listed buildings to improve the insulation in their homes.
The visit included a tour of a home on Jane Street to see an example of a retrofit project that is still under construction. The listed property was close to fully insulated, and also featured the first functioning heat pump in the World Heritage Site. The work on the property is expected to reduce heat loss by 60%.
The MPs also viewed an example of a partial retrofit, on Caroline Street, in which one room of the historic property had been fully insulated.
The ministerial visit also tied in with the Labour Government’s launch of the Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion investment to upgrade 5 million homes, targeting a £500 annual reduction in energy bills and lifting 1 million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.
Speaking after the visit, Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, said: “It was a pleasure to be joined by Minister McCluskey in Saltaire today. I have been vocal in advocating for home energy-efficiency upgrades to be more affordable for everyone, and therefore am hugely supportive of the government’s Warm Homes Plan.
“Residents in Saltaire, who live in older, often less energy-efficient homes, find upgrades difficult to implement due to the understandable restrictions in the World Heritage Site. I was glad the minister was able to see how it can be done and hear about the innovative work of the Saltaire Retrofit Reimagined Project.
“I encourage all residents of the Shipley constituency to look into how they can bring down their energy bills by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, through accessing the support available through the Warm Homes Plan.”
Martin McCluskey MP said: “It was wonderful to be invited to Saltaire by the brilliant local MP, Anna Dixon, and see the great work that the Saltaire Retrofit Reimagined project is doing in the village.
“The Labour Government has recently launched our Warm Homes Plan - the biggest investment in home upgrades in British history, backed by £15 billion - supporting home energy efficiency upgrades right across the country.
“It is important to emphasise that support is available from this government for everyone in improving the energy efficiency of their homes, including those in harder-to-retrofit properties, as we have here in Saltaire.
“The local work happening here in the Shipley constituency is fantastic to see, and I absolutely encourage all those living in the area to find out more about the Warm Homes Plan, contact Home Energy West Yorkshire for advice and find out what support they can get.”
