ENERGY bosses have unveiled a £9 million investment package which will see hundreds of homes upgraded in Greenock.

Scottish Gas yesterday outlined plans for the Broomhill area, above, which will help residents heat their homes for less — and make the properties more efficient.

The company is teaming up with housing association River Clyde Homes (RCH) and Inverclyde Council for the project.

Over the next nine months, work will be carried out to add solid wall insulation to the outside of over 500 homes to reduce the amount of heat escaping through walls, help properties heat up quicker and stay warmer for longer.

New cladding will also transform the look of the buildings, giving them a fresh appearance.

Properties will benefit from a district heating system — a network of insulated pipes used to deliver heat in the form of hot water or steam from the point of generation to somebody’s home — which allows heat to be transported more efficiently.

Residents living in ‘the Broomy’ are thrilled with the announcement.

Jenny Speck, who chairs the Broomhill Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “We currently have a heating system in our homes that is both inefficient and expensive to run.

“The new district heating system will address both these problems and I know we are really looking forward to noticing the difference in our pockets as our energy bills should become cheaper.

“Combined with the new solid wall cladding for all of the buildings in Broomhill, it will really bring our homes into the 21st century.” The new heating system is used in large residential communities and industrial sites because it is a low carbon form of energy.

The project is expected to take around nine months to complete.

Scottish Gas is carrying out the work as part of a scheme introduced by energy market regulators Ofgem in 2013 which encouraged providers to introduce more cost saving and energy efficient measures for low income and vulnerable customers.

The project also attracted financial support for homeowners in the area through a Scottish Government funding scheme administered by Inverclyde Council.

This allows owners to participate in the refurbishment works at zero or low cost.

Dave Young, of Scottish Gas, said: “We’re really pleased to deliver this project in partnership with River Clyde Homes in Greenock, which will transform the lives of many people in the town. It will make homes warmer and more energy efficient for families and will help reduce energy bills.” The area is largely made up of RCH properties, and the investment is part of a major £26m Broomhill regeneration project being led by the housing association and the council.

Willie Croft, director of property and development services at RCH, said: “Combating fuel poverty for our customers has become a key priority for River Clyde Homes.

“These Broomhill properties will benefit from a refurbishment that should help people reduce their energy costs by using a system that is both efficient and environmentally friendly.”