Almost 50,000 homes across Norwich are poorly insulated, new research has revealed.
According to a report led by the Institute of Health Equity at University College London (UCL), there are 18 fuel poverty hotspots and 49,829 homes with an energy performance rating of D or lower across the Fine City.
This means nearly 50,000 homes are inefficient and expensive to heat for the people who live in them, amid the high energy bills of the cost of living crisis.
The analysis also found a staggering 9.6 million households across the UK are living in poorly insulated homes with incomes below the minimum level at which an acceptable standard of living is affordable - meaning that finding enough money to pay for decent housing, enough heating and the basic essentials of life will be out of reach for most.
Sarah Eglington, a campaigner from Norwich For Warm Homes - a local branch of the United for Warm Homes campaign that was launched in December 2022 - said these damning figures "should spur all political parties into action as we head towards the general election".
She added: “The UK has the oldest and least efficient housing stock in Europe.
"Since 2013, installation rates of energy-saving measures and insulation have plummeted by 90pc.
"We need an urgent commitment from all political parties for a nationwide programme of insulation.
"We need to see transformative levels of investment and action to stem the huge social and economic costs of cold homes and ensure our internationally agreed climate targets are met.”
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Charlie Chamberlain, who is also a member of Norwich For Warm Homes, attended a parliamentary reception to launch the report alongside Sarah last week.
Charlie said: "What allows fuel poverty to exponentially escalate in the UK in a way it doesn’t anywhere else in Europe? Class.
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"What prevents the meagre government funds allocated to retrofit from being actually spent? Class.
"There is a complete lack of trust between those who allocate the funds and those who carry out the work.
"There is a complete lack of lived experience between those who are responsible for running retrofit programmes and those living in cold homes."
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