PEOPLE who live in 1,200 chilly homes in Aspley will enjoy warmer winters and lower energy bills as a result of a new £2.8 million energy-efficiency project.

The homes will get better insulation as part of the Aspley Super Warm Zone initiative, which could save them up to £300 a year.

One of the first recipients of the solid-wall insulation was Nottingham City Homes tenant Sue Stevenson, of Seaton Crescent, Aspley.

The 63-year-old said: "From the first weekend I noticed the house was warmer. I've got osteoporosis so I do feel the cold terribly. It has made such a difference being able to be warm in my house.

"I'm a pensioner and I was worried about my fuel bills and hopefully this is going to help."

Residents in solid-wall homes that are tough to heat will get priority under the scheme, which also aims to help tackle fuel poverty.

Charity Nottingham Energy Partnership (NEP) is managing the landmark pilot project, with the funding provided by energy firm, Scottish and Southern Energy.

Residents will receive a range of energy-efficiency measures including internal solid-wall insulation, a replacement boiler and loft insulation to help protect against increasing fuel prices.

The work will go on for the next 18 months and is the East Midlands' first solid-wall insulation project.

The project was launched at a show home in Minver Crescent, Aspley, yesterday.

Councillor Graham Chapman said: "We are finally able to tackle the hardest-to-heat homes and take a great step forward in reducing fuel poverty.

"As hosts of the region's first solid-wall insulation programme and one of only a handful of schemes in the UK it is a great credit for Nottingham and reinforces the city's commitment to its Sustainable Energy Strategy target of reducing CO2 by 26 per cent."

Nottingham City Homes is delivering the first phase of the programme for 800 tenants by scheduling the energy makeovers into their Secure Warm and Modern Decent Homes scheme – when their kitchens and bathrooms are upgraded.

A quarter of these homes are also earmarked to have solar photo-voltaic panels installed to supply them with renewable electricity, keeping bills down further.

Steve Hale, NCH assistant director of asset management, said: "The delivery of these combined schemes is ambitious but demonstrates our commitment to tenants and is a major move towards meeting the Government's proposed Warm Homes Standard by 2020 and the key factor in reducing fuel poverty."

The second phase of the scheme will start in the New Year, providing grants and green "pay as you save" finance packages to about 400 homeowners in the Aspley area.

Miranda Cumberbatch, affordable warmth programme manager for NEP, said solid-wall homes were the most difficult to insulate because it costs ten times more than cavity-wall insulation.

And in the areas being targeted, which are in the top ten per cent most deprived areas in the country, most people cannot afford the layout of £3,000 or more.

She said it was hoped that the scheme could later be extended to the 23,000 solid-wall homes across Nottingham.

Energy companies are providing funding for such schemes because they have been set carbon reduction targets by the Government and face fines of up to ten per cent of their turnover if they fail to meet them.

NEP managing director Phil Angus said: "The launch of the Aspley Super Warm Zone is a tribute to the commitment and hard work of our partners Frank Haslam Milan, and in particular Westville Ltd and Permarock for providing their services for free for the eco refurbishment of the show home."