A SHADOW cabinet minister has visited Rugby’s newest neighbourhood to see the work being done to create a sustainable community.
Ed Miliband, the shadow minister for climate change and net zero, came to Houlton to meet developers and residents to discuss how energy efficient building can reduce energy bills, and to meet staff and students at Houlton School.
Accompanying the former Labour leader on the visit was Borough Councillor John Slinger, the party’s parliamentary candidate for Rugby.
He said: “We visited newly built homes that have high quality insulation and heat pumps, and residents told us about how this has saved them hundreds of pounds on their energy bills.
“Houlton is a good example of what can be achieved when local authorities work with developers to build genuine sustainable communities.
“If elected, I’ll champion good development on brownfield sites and work to ensure they have the infrastructure they need and a sizeable affordable housing component.
“We want to stop developers riding roughshod over our local area, we want to see sustainable communities like these which have consent from the community.”
Mr Miliband said his party’s Warm Homes Plan would reduce energy bills by £500 a year for 24,000 Rugby households.
He said: “Failure to insulate our homes is one of the reasons bills are so high. Too many people across the West Midlands live in draughty, cold homes with high heating costs.
“Labour’s plans will help families to upgrade their homes, cutting emissions, tackling fuel poverty, and saving people £500 every year off their energy bills.”
