A multi-million pound scheme to reduce carbon emissions at council-owned homes and buildings in the borough has been given the green light.

Dudley Council has been awarded around £2.5 million in European funding and will match-fund the rest from existing budgets. The local authority’s ruling cabinet approved the outlay at a meeting last week.

The scheme will see smart thermostats installed alongside new gas boilers in nearly 1,000 council homes across the borough to cut down on emissions. Buildings such as Dudley Council House in Priory Road are also likely to see improvements to make them more energy efficient. Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing, communities and residents’ welfare, said:

"I am delighted the cabinet has approved this excellent initiative. It will improve the energy efficiency of council homes and public buildings, reducing our carbon emissions and helping to tackle climate change.

"Council tenants will see savings on their utility bills and investment in our public buildings will make them more cost efficient to run as energy prices increase."

The council is getting the cash from the European Regional Development Fund. Work to install the first boilers and smart thermostats is likely to start later this month, with improvements to public buildings set to commence next spring.